Luke Menzie (May 29, 1988) is a British former Rugby player and current professional wrestler signed to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on Smackdown under the ring name Ridge Holland.
As a rugby league player, Menzies spent the majority of his career with various clubs in the Championship, making one appearance in Super League for Hull Kingston Rovers in 2008. In 2016 he began pursuing a career in professional wrestling, and signed with WWE in early 2018.
Rugby league career
Menzies signed for the Hull Kingston Rovers in September 2007, making one appearance in Super League in 2008. After leaving Hull KR, Menzies then appeared for a number of lower league clubs including Batley, Oldham, Dewsbury, Hunslet, and Swinton.
In 2014, Menzies joined the Salford Red Devils, making one appearance for the club. In March 2015, he joined the York City Knights on a loan spell. In June of the same year, he joined Halifax, also on loan. In 2017 he joined the Canadian club Toronto Wolfpack for their inaugural season.
Professional wrestling career
Independent circuit (2016-2018)
Menzies began training to become a professional wrestler under Marty Jones, making his debut on the UK independent circuit in March 2016. During his early career, Menzies won his first title while in 3 Count Wrestling. He won the 3CW Championship on April 21, 2018 at 3CW Euphoria, after defeating El Ligero, Joseph Conners and defending champion Rampage Brown in a four-way elimination match. He later lost the 3CW title to Rampage Brown on May 19 at the 2018 3CW Enthrone event.
World Wrestling Entertainment (2016, 2018-present)
In November 2016 Menzies attended a tryout for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). In May 2018, after making further appearances on the UK independent circuit, it was announced that Menzies had signed with WWE.
NXT (2018-2021)
Menzies's first match was in 2018 during the August 9 live event, where he lost to Babatunde Aiyegbusi. During the following night's live event, Menzies lost to Kona Reeves. He returned to wrestle during the August 25 live event, where he lost to Dan Matha. On the August 29 episode of NXT, Menzies made his televised debut, losing to Keith Lee. He finished the month with a match during the August 30 live event, losing to Mexican Luchador and fellow NXT newcomer Humberto Carrillo. Returning for the September 6 live event, Menzies won his second singles match, defeating Mansoor Al-Shehail. On the following night's live event, Menzies lost to Babatunde Aiyegbusi. He went on to wrestle and lose to NXT regulars Kassius Ohno and Lars Sullivan during the September 13 and September 14 live events. He wrestled his first tag match during the September 21 live event, teaming with Kona Reeves, losing to Danny Burch & Oney Lorcan. He finished the month appearing during the September 29 live event, teaming with fellow newcomers Rinku Singh & Saurav Gurjar in a tag match lost to Jeet Rama and The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford).
The following month, Menzies returned during the 4 October live event, losing to fellow newcomer Stacey Ervin Jr.. He went on to lose to Ervin Jr. in a rematch held during the following night's live event. Menzies made his televised return on the 17 October Tapings losing to NXT recruit Matt Riddle. Two nights later, Menzies returned for the October 19 live event, losing to NXT regular The Velveteen Dream. The following night, on the October 20 live event, Menzies wrestled and lost to recent NXT recruit Matt Riddle. Returning six nights later, Menzies finished the month with a match held during the October 26 live event, losing to NXT recruit Dominik Dijakovic. The following month, Menzies lost to Matt Riddle in two consecutive rematches during the November 1 and November 3 live event. The following week during the November 9 live event, Menzies lost a match against Lars Sullivan. He finished the month with a match during the November 29 live event, competing in a 12-Man Number One Contender Battle Royal for the NXT Championship, ending with recent NXT recruit Keith Lee becoming the next contender. Menzies returned the following month at the December 1 live event, Menzies lost a singles match to The Velveteen Dream. The following week during the December 5 episode of NXT, where he wrestled in a dark match defeating Mansoor Al-Shehail. The following night at the December 6 live event, Menzies defeated Mansoor Al-Shehail. During the following night's live event, Menzies lost a singles match to Brennan Williams.
The following year during 2019, Menzies teamed with Kassius Ohno during the 22 March live event, where they challenged for the NXT Tag Team Championship held by the War Raiders. By June 2019, he debuted his new ring name Ridge Holland. He won a singles match during the June 6 live event, defeating Rik Bugez. He passed the course of the summer months in matches at NXT live events. Holland did not return to television until the November 21 episode of NXT UK, during which he won a singles match defeating Oliver Carter. The following month, Holland returned on the December 12 episode of NXT UK during which he picked up a singles victory over Jack Starz.
Holland went on enjoy further success during early 2020 in singles matches during the January and March television airings of NXT UK, defeating Tyson T-Bone and Saxon Huxley respectively. He won a singles victory during the March 19 episode of NXT UK, defeating Joseph Conners. On the April 2 episode of NXT UK, Holland competed in a Number One Contender battle royal match for a title shot at the NXT UK Championship. On the August 5 episode of NXT, Holland competed against Damian Priest and Oney Lorcan in a Triple Threat Qualifying match for a future title shot at the NXT North American Championship. He returned on the August 19 episode of NXT, during which he wrestled in second qualifying match for the Number One Contender status but lost to Johnny Gargano. On the September 3 episode of NXT UK during which he lost a singles match to WALTER. During the September 23 episode of NXT, Holland won a singles match defeating Antonio De Luca. The following week on the September 30 episode of NXT, Holland lost a match to Cameron Grimes by disqualification. Holland's final match of the year was during the October 7 episode of NXT in which he defeated Danny Burch.
Holland returned the following year on the August 3 episode of NXT defeating Ikemen Jiro. He wrestled three more singles matches during the month of August, including a victory during the pre-show at NXT TakeOver XXXVI and appearances on NXT television against opponents Trey Baxter, Timothy Thatcher and Tommaso Ciampa on those occasions. He spent the month of September making regular in-ring television appearances including two singles matches and one tag match. On the October 12 episode of NXT, Holland teamed with Pete Dunne in a tag match lost to Kyle O'Reilly & Von Wagner.
In wrestling
- Finishers
- Northern Grit- Northern Lights Bomb
- Signature moves
- Belly to belly suplex
- Trapping Suplex
- Ridgeplex (head and arm suplex)
- Rugby Tackle
- Headbutt
- Cobra clutch
- Canadian backbreaker
- Nicknames
- Managers and valets
- Tag teams and stables
- Entrance music
Championships and accomplishments
- 3CW Championship (1 time)
- NXT
- NXT Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Duke Hudson
