Ridge Holland has revealed a backstage WWE story that nearly turned an already painful situation into uneasy live television.
Speaking during an interview on Wrestling Life with Ben Veal, the former WWE star recalled how Vince McMahon almost had him deliver an unscripted apology promo just days after the accident that broke Big E’s neck.
The incident reportedly happened during a live episode of SmackDown in the week following the March 2022 accident.
Holland said he was moments away from going on air before the segment was suddenly pulled at the last possible second. This emerged as a swerve backstage that clearly still sits heavily with him.
Holland explained that WWE management had arranged for him to publicly apologize on live television after the frightening ringside spot involving Big E.
“I remember the week after Vince had arranged for me to cut an apology promo,” Holland said. “I didn’t know what I was going to say. I was just going to be as real as I could — speak from the heart.”
According to Holland, producers were counting him down before the live segment began. “It went like 10, 9, 8… and it got to five, four, and then I saw Vince and Bruce just go like that and nah — and they cut it at the last second.”
Holland admitted that the moment changed how he viewed the company moving forward. “I thought from then on, I never felt the same way about the company. I thought they just did that to mess with me.”
The original injury occurred during a SmackDown tag team match involving The New Day, Kofi Kingston, Holland, and Sheamus. A belly-to-belly suplex at ringside went wrong. The resulting impact caused Big E to land directly on his head and fracture vertebrae in his neck.
Despite avoiding paralysis and surgery, Big E officially announced his in-ring retirement in February 2026 after doctors refused to medically clear him. Through it all, he has repeatedly stated he holds no resentment toward Holland. This is a rare babyface move in a story that never needed extra heel heat backstage.
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