An injured WWE star, whose contract is set to expire next month, has already been confirmed for his first appearance after leaving the company. Ridge Holland is currently recovering from a foot injury that required successful surgery.
While sidelined from in-ring action, Holland recently confirmed that WWE will not be renewing his contract upon its expiration on November 14, 2025. With his departure from WWE just weeks away, Holland’s first confirmed post-WWE appearance has been announced. He will be appearing under his real name, Luke Menzies.
Salvatore Wrestling Promotions announced via Instagram that Menzies is scheduled to appear at the GCW Dream On Fan Slam event on November 22nd. This fan-focused event will take place from 10 am to 2 pm at the American Dream complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. It precedes the main GCW Dream On wrestling show scheduled for later that evening at the same venue.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by @salvatorewrestlingpromotions
More news: WWE Superstar Announces Retirement Match
Holland’s appearance comes as he continues rehabilitation for his foot surgery. He also recently disclosed that he might require an additional surgery, this time on his neck, indicating a potentially lengthy recovery period before he can return to wrestling competition.
Recent reports also shed light on Holland’s previous contract situation, noting that he had accepted a pay cut when agreeing to his last contract extension. Much of the past year saw him competing primarily within the NXT brand, including matches on its live event circuit.
His final two televised matches before the injury occurred in NXT, featuring a loss to Mike Santana and the subsequent match against Moose where he sustained the foot injury. With his WWE tenure officially ending on November 14th, Holland’s appearance at the GCW Fan Slam on November 22nd marks the first step into the next phase of his career under his real name.
While his injuries will prevent an in-ring return for the foreseeable future, his presence at the GCW event signals his intention to remain connected to the wrestling world as he recovers.
More WWE News:
For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
