MLW star Richard Holliday reveals he’s battling cancer

MLW star Richard Holliday has revealed that he’s battling cancer.

The 30-year-old Holliday (real name Joe Zimbardi) opened up to Sports Illustrated about his battle, revealing that he’s halfway through 12 rounds of chemotherapy treatment. Holliday was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin’s lymphoma after undergoing tests in September.

Holliday told Sports Illustrated that he began experiencing a vicious bout of night sweats in June. In July, severe dizzy spells caused Holliday to go to the emergency room. His iron and hemoglobin levels were dangerously low, but doctors thought he was anemic.

“I was taking iron pills to try to counter that, but my levels kept dropping,” Holliday said. “They checked if I had internal bleeding, which I didn’t, and then they ran a litany of tests and a scan of my body for a possible case of lymphoma in September. Those tests confirmed it was Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”

Holliday said learning of the diagnosis was earth-shattering, but he’s been reassured by his doctor that he can beat this.

“It was earth-shattering, devastating,” Holliday said. “But I knew right then I needed to change my mindset. The mind powers the body, so I needed to stay positive. I was reassured by my doctor that I could beat this, and I believe I am going to beat this.”

Holliday most recently wrestled when he challenged Alex Hammerstone for the MLW World Heavyweight Championship in a falls count anywhere match this June. That match aired on the Thanksgiving edition of MLW Fusion.

“When I wrestled Hammer in June, I was taking Dayquil to try to get through every day,” Holliday said. “I kept pushing and pushing, but I just felt off. At that point, I had just got home from California. The whole time I was there, I was freezing. I was pale white when I left after a month.”

Though he was “so upset” when his health issues took wrestling away from him, Holliday is excited for the future and is looking forward to making his in-ring return.

“I think about my return every single day,” Holliday said. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. But this is a process. I know there are more steps after chemotherapy. Mentally, right now, I am ready. Physically, I know it’s going to take some time. But I will be back.”

Holliday said his focus right now is on being declared cancer-free after his last treatment and ringing the celebratory bell in the hospital when that happens.

“When I ring the bell, I’m planning on doing it so hard that I’ll break it,” Holliday said. “I’ll be happy to buy them a new one.”

Holliday has been with MLW since 2018. He’s a former MLW Tag Team Champion, holding the titles with MJF.

It was announced in 2020 that MLW had signed Holliday to a new multi-year contract.