Ridge Hollands departure from WWE has turned into a deeper controversyand now its dragging other wrestlers into the crossfire. After WWE released Holland while he was still injured, the former Superstar launched a GoFundMe to help his family cover essential expenses. That fundraiser gained traction quickly, with donations pouring in from both WWE and AEW stars.
But WWE apparently didnt like how this looked. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, wrestlers like Chelsea Green, Omos, Kyle Fletcher, and Nick Jackson donated to Hollands fundraiser. Green even shared the link on social mediabut the post disappeared shortly after. Dave Meltzer didnt mince words about why.
Co-host Garrett Gonzales noted that Green used her wrestling name when making the donation, making it impossible to miss.
Even AEW wrestlers quietly stepped up. Kyle Fletcher and Nick Jackson both contributed, but chose varying levels of anonymity. Meltzer confirmed at least five recognizable names donated, adding that their involvement quickly caught attention across the industry.
The bigger issue seems to be how WWE viewed Hollands public plea for help. Meltzer said the company was already unhappy about Hollands tweet slamming them for cutting him off while injured. The GoFundMe, in their eyes, just poured gasoline on the fire.
Internally, WWEs stance was that Holland:
- Took a significant pay cut to stay with the company.
- Knew well in advance that his contract wasnt being renewed.
- Was still making around $180,000 to $200,000 before his release.
Despite those points, the optics of current WWE stars donating to a recently cut, injured wrestleras WWE posts record-breaking profitssparked an image problem the company apparently wanted gone fast.
WWEs pushback may have silenced some, but the situation has already spilled into public view. Even as Green deleted her tweet, and others tried to stay under the radar, the message is loud and clearHollands story hit a nerve, and not just with fans.
This kind of backstage friction shows just how sensitive WWE is to public perception, especially when it clashes with their billion-dollar image. But when wrestlers feel the need to help one of their own outside company lines, it speaks volumes about whats happening behind the curtain.
Should WWE really be policing who their talent supports? Or did the wrestlers cross a line by going public? Sound off in the comments and let us know where you stand.
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