Luke Menzies

Luke Menzies (born 29 May 1988) is an English professional wrestler and former professional rugby league footballer. He is currently signed to the WWE on their NXT brand under the ring name Ridge Holland.

Luke Menzies
Personal information
Born (1988-05-29) 29 May 1988
Liversedge, West Yorkshire, England
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)[1]
Weight251 lb (114 kg)[1]
Playing information
PositionProp
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2007 Batley Bulldogs 24 5 0 0 0
2008 Hull Kingston Rovers 2 0 0 0 0
2009 Oldham 30 2 0 0 4
2010–11 Dewsbury Rams 27 3 0 0 12
2012 Batley Bulldogs 25 0 0 0 0
2012–13 Hunslet Hawks 21 0 0 0 0
2014 Swinton Lions 24 4 0 0 16
2015 Salford Red Devils 1 0 0 0 0
2015(loan) → York City Knights 1 0 0 0 0
2015(loan) → Halifax 3 0 0 0 0
2017 Toronto Wolfpack 1 0 0 0 0
Total 159 14 0 0 32
Source: [2][3]

As a rugby league footballer, Menzies spent the majority of his career with various clubs in the Championship, making one appearance in the 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 Hull Kingston Rovers in September 2007, making one appearance in the Super League in 2008.[4] After leaving Hull Kingston Rovers, Menzies then appeared for a number of lower league clubs including Batley Bulldogs, Oldham, Dewsbury Rams, Hunslet and Swinton Lions.

In 2014, Menzies joined the Salford Red Devils, making one appearance for the club.[5] In March 2015, he joined the York City Knights on a loan spell.[6] 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.[7]

WWE

NXT UK (2016, 2018–2020)

In November 2016, Menzies attended a tryout for WWE.[8] In May 2018, after making further appearances on the UK independent circuit, it was announced that Menzies had signed with WWE.[9] On the August 29, 2018 edition of NXT, Menzies made his televised debut, losing to Keith Lee.[10] On November 21st, 2019, he made his television debut for the NXT UK brand under the name Ridge Holland, defeating Oliver Carter.[11] On January 30, 2020, on NXT UK, he defeated Tyson T-Bone.[12]

NXT (2020–presente)

Holland is set to make his first NXT appearance since 2018, taking part in a triple threat match against Oney Lorcan and Damian Priest where the winner will go on to NXT TakeOver XXX to compete in a ladder match for the vacant NXT North American Championship[13][14] On the August 7 edition of NXT, Holland took part in the #1 contender's triple threat match against Oney Lorcan and Damian Priest. Priest would go on to win the match after pinning Lorcan.[15] Later, NXT General Manager William Regal announced that Dexter Lumis had pulled out of the ladder match at NXT TakeOver XXX due to an ankle injury, and since Ridge Holland was not pinned or submitted in his match, he will face Johnny Gargano on the August 19 episode of NXT in a second chance match.[16]

References
  1. "Luke Menzies Salford Red Devils". www.superleague.co.uk. Rugby Football League. 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  2. RLP
  3. loverugbyleague.com
  4. Mills and Menzies join Hull KR
  5. "Salford Red Devils: Matt Groat and Luke Menzies join for 2015". BBC Sport. 2 September 2014. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  6. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  7. EX SALFORD RED DEVILS PLAYER TURNS PRO WRESTLER
  8. WWE: Rugby league star Luke Menzies handed try-out in Scotland
  9. Luke Menzies & Daniel Vidot sign with WWE
  10. "NXT results, live blog (Aug. 29, 2018): Undisputed ERA vs. Ricochet & Pete Dunne". Cageside Seats. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  11. "WWE NXT UK #69". Cageside Seats.
  12. "NXT UK results, Jan. 30, 2020: Mastiff comes in conflict with WALTER as Imperium emerge victorious in a Six-Man Tag Team main event". WWE. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  13. "Damian Priest looks ahead to his Triple Threat Match next week: WWE NXT, July 29, 2020 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  14. "411MANIA". Updated NXT Takeover XXX Card. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
  15. "Damian Priest vs. Oney Lorcan vs. Ridge Holland: WWE NXT, Aug. 5, 2020 - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
  16. "WWE NXT RESULTS – AUGUST 5TH, 2020". 5 August 2020. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
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