Ridge Holland has broken his silence on how some fans have been treating him since he inadvertently injured Big E last year.
On Twitter, Holland revealed that cancel culture wants him fired from WWE and some of those angry fans are targeting him and his loved ones:
Death threats. Threats to my family. Lobbying for me to lose my job. Being labeled as racist. Great stuff đđť keep âem coming.
— Ridge Holland (@RidgeWWE) March 13, 2023
During a match between The Brawling Brutes and The New Day last year, Holland executed a belly-to-belly suplex on Big E on the arena floor. Instead of landing on his back, Big E landed on his neck, breaking is neck. Although Big E’s condition has improved he isn’t sure if he will ever wrestle again.
In an interview with ESPN last year Big E stated publicly he bears no ill-will at all towards Holland.
“I have no issue whatsoever with Ridge. He’s reached out and said some very kind things. … What we do is dangerous and there are inherent dangers. And to that degree, we all kind of know what we sign up for and it was unfortunate that it went down that way. But I’m not dead. I’m alive. I’m doing well,” Big E said.
Holland shared his feelings shortly after the accident with Metro UK.
âItâs just been a slow process, getting back into it and learning how to trust myself, and obviously building that trust up with the boys as well. The trust of your peers is what we aim for,â he explained while saying he has been in close contact with Big E since the accident.
âThatâs the number one, regardless of how I feel, regardless of whatâs come to be. The main thing is that heâs his positive self, heâs cracking on and hopefully weâll see him back in the not to distant future!” said Holland.
WWE superstars and fans alike sent reassuring messages to Ridge.
Smackdown ring announcer Samantha Irvin has this to say:
Stay strong, Ridge! We know your heart đđ˝
— Samantha Irvin (@SamanthaTheBomb) March 13, 2023
Former NXT superstar Flash Morgan Webster said this about the situation and Twitter itself:
Youâre honestly one of the nicest and most caring guys around.
This app is absolute trash some of the time. But It doesnât reflect real life or the opinions of the people who know you. Keep you chin up big man, big love.
— Flash Morgan Webster (@Flash_Morgan) March 13, 2023
Fans also had their say:
Ridge,
The thing I look for, as a fan, when trying to figure out these types of situations? How were you booked after.
Not only did WWE have faith in your ability to keep others safe, so did the rest of the New Day, Usos, Viking Raiders, Shinsuke, etc. pic.twitter.com/YGbAex3M5s
— Spideycloned (@RealAriados) March 13, 2023
Big E wouldn't want his fans acting this way. The Man symbolizes the power of positivity . We all miss the Champ Big E pic.twitter.com/6YztfkHqJN
— Spartaprime (@Spartaprime) March 13, 2023
New Dayâs mantra has always been âpower of positivity.â There is no way Big E would want his fans to act this way. His real fans wouldnât do this. Accidents happen and there was nothing malicious here. Iâm sure Ridge beats himself up enough over this. We donât need to pile on.
— Dane Jackson (parody) (@almightydanish) March 13, 2023