Summary

Ridge Holland reflected on the March 11, 2022 SmackDown incident in which Big E suffered a serious neck injury after a belly-to-belly suplex.

The source text states Big E fractured his C1 and C6 vertebrae, avoided ligament and spinal cord damage, and has not wrestled since.

Holland said the backlash from the incident became a lasting burden and that he feels it also changed his own WWE trajectory.

The source text also notes Big E has said there is no ill will toward Holland.

Ridge Holland says the Big E incident still shapes how he views his WWE run

Ridge Holland describing this as a career-defining turning point makes clear the incident remains central to his WWE narrative, and that consequence frames any eventual in-ring return as a reset moment rather than a routine comeback.

Because he said he wants to reinvent himself if he wrestles again, his next chapter appears tied to rebuilding trust and perception as much as performance.

Quotes

Quote from Ridge Holland

"From that moment, Big E was a huge star and so loved. There was a massive backlash, and even me being relatively new on the roster, as well. They're gonna have to point the finger at somebody. Yeah, they pointed the finger at me. It was kind of a black cloud in my career. I never really got past it. I couldn't shake it. I always say, Big E's career, unfortunately, ended that day, but I think, so did mine, in a way. At least my career in WWE. I'll always regret it. It's one of those things I'm looking forward to putting behind me and hopefully moving on. If and when the time comes when I put my boots back on, I can reinvent myself."

Sources

As reported by Fightful.