Joe Hendry, the man who made the wrestling world believe in him, appears to be on a clear path to becoming a full-time WWE Superstar. According to a new report from The Takedown on SI, the current TNA wrestler is in the process of being largely phased out of TNA programming and more deeply integrated into WWE television.
Multiple sources within both WWE and TNA have indicated that the internal expectation is for Hendry to be signed to a full-time WWE contract by the beginning of 2026. This follows months of Hendry becoming a staple on NXT programming, despite being a top star for another promotion. While some fans have speculated that Hendry may already be under a secret WWE deal, TNA President Carlos Silva confirmed to The Takedown on SI that Hendry is still under contract with TNA.
Silva noted that the usage of talent between the two companies is a coordinated effort as part of their ongoing partnership. However, Hendry’s recent match history illustrates the shift in focus, as only one of his last eight matches has been under the TNA banner. The rest have been for WWE, including main roster house show matches against The Miz during a recent tour of the United Kingdom.
WWE’s long-term plans for Hendry have been evident for some time. He made his main roster debut as a surprise entrant in the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match and was later revealed as Randy Orton’s mystery opponent at WrestleMania. This week on NXT Homecoming, the storyline direction became even clearer when WWE official Bobby Roode appeared in a backstage segment and explicitly told Hendry to turn his focus toward the NXT Championship, a directive the report says was no coincidence.
WWE has also continued to feature Hendry prominently on its social media, including a recent video on the WWE Recruiting Instagram page where he discussed his favorite matches while wearing a WWE t-shirt. Hendry’s rise to the top has been meteoric over the last year. He became a viral sensation and social media star in 2024, riding a wave of momentum that culminated in him defeating Nic Nemeth to become the TNA World Champion at the TNA Genesis event earlier this year.
