Add as a preferred source on Google Luke Menzies, formerly known as Ridge Holland in WWE, has again discussed his time with the company, this time addressing what happened behind the scenes with The Brawling Brutes. The stable got that name in May 2022, bringing together Sheamus, Holland and Pete Dunne, who was being presented as Butch at the time.
Speaking with Sports Jedi Network, Menzies said the trio did not have much clarity on what WWE actually wanted to do with the stable.
“It was hard because we didn’t really know what ideas they had for the group. We didn’t know what direction we were going in. We didn’t know what they wanted.
“I was going to just do what I always do and be aggressive and try make my stuff look as real as possible and see what happens.
“Sheamus was kind of steering the ship when it came to the pitches and the creative idea. We were just basically his lackeys really.”
“It was great, lads from Europe, lads from England and Ireland. I think we could have taken it a lot further with how we would act but a lot of the time when you get into certain vernacular and the things we say in the UK it can kind of get lost over here in the States so we were handcuffed in certain ways.”
Despite the lack of direction Menzies pointed to, The Brawling Brutes had several notable moments in WWE. Sheamus and Holland defeated Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods at WrestleMania 38, while the trio also had a memorable rivalry with Imperium, including a Good Old Fashioned Donnybrook Match at Extreme Rules 2022.
The stable was also involved in the first men’s WarGames match on the main roster at Survivor Series 2022, when Sheamus, Holland and Butch teamed with Drew McIntyre and Kevin Owens against The Bloodline.
In 2023, however, the stable began to fall apart. Sheamus was sidelined with an injury, while Holland walked out on Butch during a match against Pretty Deadly on Friday Night SmackDown, effectively ending the stable.
Menzies later left WWE after the company opted not to renew his contract in 2025.