Big E says WWE fans went too far in blaming Ridge Holland for his role in his career-ending injury.
Former WWE Champion Big E suffered a career-ending neck injury after taking a botched belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland outside the ring on the March 11, 2022, episode of SmackDown. Holland received tons of heat from fans over the incident and even received death threats.
Speaking on the INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet podcast, Big E revealed he reconnected with Ridge Holland very quickly after the incident. He noted that he feels for Holland over the backlash he received and said he clarified to fans that what happened was unintentional. He also revealed that Holland sent him a 10-pound box of meat as an apology.
“It was pretty quickly. I don’t remember the exact timeline, but we ended up talking pretty quickly thereafter. He got a lot of hate, he got threats. On one end I can understand a lot of people. I can appreciate the people who are supportive of me and who wanted to see me continue to wrestle, and felt like he was the reason that I couldn’t, but I know what I signed up for. I know things go awry. It was never malicious. It was never intentional,” Big E began.
“I felt for him and continued to feel for him. He actually sent me a 10-pound box of meat as an apology, which felt like a very manly thing to do. Here’s a bunch of meat. At the time I really wasn’t eating much red meat, so I was like, oh, this is great, but I sent that to my creative partner, Johnny. Someone enjoyed it, at least. But no, we talked, and he continued to check in,” Big E continued.
Big E says fans went too far
Speaking further, Big E noted that he had asked fans multiple times to stop attacking Ridge Holland, emphasizing that he doesn’t hold any grudge. He hates that Holland’s time in WWE will mostly be remembered for this one unfortunate accident and noted that the fans went too far by blaming him.
“I actually ran into him briefly at the MGM Grand in Vegas for Mania this year. He was on the move, and I was on the move, and there are fans around too, so it’s pretty quick. But it was good to see him. It seemed like he was in a better place, but yeah, I know it really altered his career, and I tried to put out a statement or two to tell people there’s no ill will whatsoever, please leave this man alone,” Big E went on.
“But more than anything, he has a family to take care of. He has kids, and to see him, one, he dealt with a devastating injury of his own. He dealt with losing his job. I really felt for him, continue to feel for him, because I tell people I’m in a great place, I’m very thankful. I still am continuing with the company, doing broadcasting work. I am good, I am truly, truly good.
“But, yeah, I think he was just in a very difficult position, and I really hate that his tenure in WWE, for the most part, a lot of it’s going to be defined by the injury and his role in it. But I really feel for him and for his family, and I truly hope he’s in a better place. I hope that’s all come to an end, because a lot of people crossed the line and went too far,” Big E said.
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