Summary

Ridge Holland said the feel of NXT changed once Shawn Michaels took over day-to-day creative, describing the brand as more focused on pace and shorter matches than the version he experienced under Triple H.

Speaking on Sportshadow Wrestling, Holland said that shift could make it harder for wrestlers to build matches the way they want. The former WWE talent worked in NXT during both eras, giving him a direct point of comparison as he looked back on the brand's evolution.

Quote from Ridge Holland

"I'd say since Shawn took over, NXT has become a lot more faster paced. Short matches. Kind of like TikTok style for the new generation because they don't want to lose anyone's interest, which is hard as a wrestler because you want to tell stories and put some time in and make everything mean something. It's hard when you're getting three-minute matches. I had a pleasant experience with both. They both gave me an opportunity, and I'm grateful for that,"

What Ridge Holland's NXT view says about that era

Holland's comments frame NXT 2.0 as a creative pivot toward speed and character presentation, and that naturally changes how much ring time wrestlers get to establish themselves. For someone like Holland, whose recent comments have also touched on his WWE exit, that difference helps explain why some talent felt the brand had moved away from the slower-build style associated with the black-and-gold period.

The remarks also stand out because Holland said he appreciated both Michaels and Triple H despite the contrast. That keeps the focus less on blame and more on how sharply NXT's presentation changed once the brand entered a new phase.

Return status after WWE exit

Holland remained with WWE until November 2025, when he revealed his deal would not be renewed before his exit was later accelerated. He has since been cleared to return to the ring following neck surgery.

Sources

Luke Menzies while speaking on Sportshadow Wrestling