Ex-WWE Star Makes Shocking Reveal: “All Triple H’s Guys Got Whittled Out”
A former WWE superstar recalled changes to NXT, especially for people known as the “Triple H guys” at the time.
Luke Menzies wrestled in WWE as Ridge Holland from 2018 until he was let go in late 2025.
Ridge Holland was informed by WWE in November 2025 that his contract wouldn’t be renewed, even though he was out of action with a foot injury suffered in a TNA match.
During his WWE career, Holland was part of several stop-and-start pushes on the main roster and also in NXT.
While appearing on Tagging in With Chris Harris, Ridge Holland recalled the September 2021 changes when NXT became NXT 2.0, focusing on younger talent per Vince McMahon’s directive. At the time, Triple H was on the sidelines due to a serious heart issue, so even though Holland may have thought he’d get a push with Triple H running the show, it didn’t happen that way.
“Initially I was getting ready to come back and they said, ‘Yeah, we’re going to pick straight up where we left off. We’re going to give you a big push.’ But at that time what had happened was Triple H had his heart issue and it was like every one of Triple H’s guys and his vision of NXT kind of got whittled out and NXT 2.0 started.
So you had an influx of talent like Bron Breakker came through and other people, so like Vince’s guys: John Laurinaitis, Bruce Prichard, they saw these new guys and I kind of fell by the wayside.
I remember Shawn Michaels, I was going to have a tag match on NXT, I was laying there and we were putting over Bron Breakker and he said, ‘Hey, Ridge do you remember when you were the young hot new stud?’ And I said, ‘Oh yeah thanks, cheers.’
Then I think maybe a couple of months (later) I was waiting for this push to happen and it never happened. We were kind of doing jobs and putting other people over. I was tagging with Pete Dunne at the time and I either thought something’s happening because I heard that my name had been mentioned higher up and I thought, I’m either going to get called up or I’m going to get canned. It’s one or two.
I remember being sat at home, I was eating a meal and the draft was on. So I’m eating and it says the next draft pick for Friday Night SmackDown is Ridge Holland. And I’m like, ‘Well I guess I’m going to SmackDown.’”
The Brawling Brutes were formed in November 2021 and lasted for about two years. Meanwhile, Butch returned to the Pete Dunne name. They didn’t hold any titles as a group. The former Ridge Holland said in the past that he thought it was a good thing to be with Sheamus in a group.
Triple H Believes In Cody Rhodes As A Major WWE Star
In his role as WWE’s Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque is leading the company and is doing so by making Cody Rhodes one of his biggest stars since Cody is a 3-time WWE Champion. When Triple H appeared on Cody’s “What Do You Wanna Talk About” podcast, he praised the American Nightmare for his role in WWE.
“And I know we touched on it briefly, but the position that you’re in was not easy. And people will tell you s*** your whole career—‘nepo baby,’ or whatever. F*** them.
You earned this, and then some. You are one of the most diligent guys in the locker room—wanting it to be right, with no stone unturned. You think about it nonstop. You’re so engaged in that, and it’s never really just about you—it’s about the company and the product as a whole, which makes you a dream to work with.”
Also Read: Triple H Broke Major Rule With Recent WWE Release