Former WWE wrestler Ridge Holland claims TKO requested 56 percent pay cut

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Luke Menzies, who wrestled for WWE under the name Ridge Holland, said this week that he was asked by the company to take a pay cut that was larger than 50 percent. Talk about the alleged WWE/TKO pay cuts has garnered headlines for months now, and the rumors about management asking stars to take less pay began soon after a massive roster purge in the spring. According to reports at the time, TKO had asked some stars to take a 50 percent pay cut in order to stay with WWE. Among the talent who reportedly rejected this offer was The New Day, who have since made a splashy debut in AEW as The New Level. A couple of days after their grand AEW entrance at All In London, The New Level appeared on The Ariel Halwani Show and addressed their departure from WWE. During the interview, Kofi divulged that the tag team was actually asked to take an even bigger pay decrease than had been reported. “I don’t know exactly what’s out there. I will say, it was more than 50 percent, which a lot of people don’t know,” Kofi said to Halwani. Now Menzies has come forward to claim that he too was asked to accept a new contract with a salary that had a larger than 50 percent pay decrease. “Honestly, I think I may have been the first to experience the new TKO version of ‘contract negotiations,’” the former Ridge Holland posted on X (Twitter) on Thursday (September 4). He added: “56% pay cut… OUCH!” Honestly I think I may have been the first to experience the new TKO version of “contract Negotiations” 56% paycut…. OUCH! https://t.co/WHseg3MwVI — Luke Menzies (@LDMenzies) September 3, 2026 Menzies’ message actually came as a reply to TNA star A.J. Francis, who jokingly posted about his release from WWE — where he wrestled as Top Dolla — by writing he was asked to take a 100 percent pay cut. As Menzies noted, his negotiations with TKO took place before the roster cuts this spring. He had announced in October 2025 that he was not happy with contract negotiations and would not be resigning with the company. WWE responded by releasing him before his deal expired. What do you think about the former Ridge Holland’s post, Cagesiders? Any other thoughts on the alleged WWE pay cut requests? Let us know in the comments.

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Former WWE star Ridge Holland revealed on social media that TKO offered him a pay cut of more than 50 percent before his departure from the company.