It was a move everyone wished was never attempted. It was an accident that can, unfortunately, happen in WWE and while the risks are inherent in this line of business, Ridge Holland, Big E, and everyone involved still deal with it to this day. While Big E remains on the shelf and is set to have more scans done to determine if he can return to in-ring action, Holland is dealing with a different kind of pressure since the accident.

Holland was the wrestler who couldn’t get Big E all the way over when he tried to belly-to-belly overhead suplex. Big E landed on his neck and hasn’t been back since. Holland wasn’t blamed and Big E has had extremely upbeat since the accident, but fans haven’t had quite the same response. Holland recently posted on Twitter, “Death threats. Threats to my family. Lobbying for me to lose my job. Being labeled as racist. Great stuff, keep ‘em coming.” Clearly, Holland was addressing fans who have blamed him for Big E’s situation and is doing his best to ignore those who wish him harm as some kind of retribution.

Other wrestlers have come to the defense of Holland, including New Day’s own Xavier Woods. He wrote, “Pro Wrestling is extremely dangerous. All of us involved understand that. Ridge & his family do not deserve to be treated this way. Please do not send any hate toward them. Instead, use your energy to do something positive like sending love to E. Be kind. Please be kind.”

Accidents Can Happen

What’s so unfortunate about all of this — beyond the fact that Big E’s wrestling career might be over — is that everyone who knows the industry is risky has come to terms with what happened, while the fans haven’t. They may have a love for Big E, but that love needs to have boundaries. Wishing someone else and their family harm is not the way to go.