5 Wrestlers Who Will THRIVE In WWE NXT's New Era
4. Ridge Holland
Ridge Holland was clearly in line for tremendous things in NXT a year ago.
The former rugby player was involved in high-profile matches against Damian Priest and Johnny Gargano, the latter of which is more known for its botched scoop Powerslam that saw Gargano dropped on his head. Regardless, the ex-professional rugby player perfectly fits WWE's ethos. A tad on the shorter side, Holland is 250+ pounds, built like a literal brickhouse, and has a legitimate sporting background.
How could the guy not thrive in NXT moving forward?
Now aligned with Pete Dunne and Oney Lorcan, Ridge is still awaiting that big breakthrough moment for everyone to realise 'Hey, that guy is big, beefy, and can wrestle'. The alliance should only last a short period before he inevitably heads off on his own two feet. A guy of Holland's stature doesn't require anyone by his side, though this will presumably provide a springboard up the card for Holland.
His return match on NXT's 3 August broadcast saw him decimate Ikemen Jiro. At one point, Ridge made use of his rugby background, tackling Jiro, and sending him flying into the Capitol Wrestling Center. Jiro sold this beautifully, with the blazer-wearing lad acting as perfect fodder for Ridge. Right now, an NXT North American Championship run doesn't seem entirely unlikely for Holland.