Following his signing with the company, Joe Hendry has been officially added to the active roster page on WWE.com. The update places Hendry within the NXT section of the website, signaling a formalization of his status within the company following months of crossover appearances.
Timeline of WWE Appearances (2024–2025)
Hendry’s integration into the WWE system occurred over a period of 18 months, beginning with the initial collaboration between WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling.
NXT Debut (June 2024):
Hendry made his first appearance on WWE television during the June 18, 2024, episode of NXT. He participated in a 25-man battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship. Although he did not win the match, his elimination by fellow TNA talent Frankie Kazarian established a narrative thread that continued on TNA programming.
NXT Championship Pursuit:
Throughout the latter half of 2024, Hendry became a recurring figure on Tuesday nights. He entered into a rivalry with the Gallus faction and engaged in a feud with Ethan Page, who was the NXT Champion at the time. Hendry challenged for the NXT Championship on multiple occasions, positioning him as a primary contender within the brand.
Main Roster Milestones (2025):
Hendry’s presence expanded beyond the developmental brand in 2025. He entered the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match as a surprise entrant, drawing number 15. This marked his first official match on a WWE main roster Premium Live Event.
Following the Royal Rumble, Hendry participated in WrestleMania 41. He answered an open challenge issued by Randy Orton. While Orton defeated Hendry in the contest, the match provided Hendry with exposure on the company’s largest annual platform.
Championship History in TNA Wrestling
Before his full integration into WWE, Hendry established a statistical record in TNA Wrestling (formerly Impact Wrestling).
TNA World Championship:
Hendry captured the promotion’s top title, the TNA World Championship, in January 2025. This victory placed him among the list of world champions who have crossed over between major promotions.
Digital Media Championship:
Hendry holds the record for the longest reign as the TNA Digital Media Champion. He utilized this title run to establish his “Say His Name” catchphrase and interact with the online audience, a strategy that contributed to his visibility prior to his WWE debut.
Amateur Wrestling Pedigree
While known for his character work, Hendry possesses a legitimate background in competitive amateur wrestling. He represented Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast, Australia.
Hendry competed in the freestyle wrestling category at 97 kg. He advanced to the Round of 16 before being eliminated by Australia’s Nicolaas Verreynne. He also holds a black belt in judo, providing a grappling foundation that differentiates him from competitors with purely theatrical backgrounds. This amateur pedigree is often cited by commentary teams during his matches to validate his technical abilities inside the ring.
The “Music Video” Gimmick and Entrance
A primary component of Hendry’s presentation is his musical entrance and self-produced videos. Hendry writes and performs his own entrance themes, including the song “I Believe in Joe Hendry.” The song charted on the UK iTunes charts, reaching as high as number 4 in 2024, solely based on sales driven by wrestling fans.
During his tenure on the independent circuit, specifically with promotions such as WCPW (What Culture Pro Wrestling), Defiant Wrestling, and ICW (Insane Championship Wrestling), Hendry developed a signature tactic of creating parody music videos. These videos, which would play before his matches, featured Hendry performing original songs that mocked his specific opponent for that evening.
This character element has translated to his WWE run, where live audiences frequently participate in his entrance by clapping and singing along to the lyrics. The phrase “Say his name and he appears” serves as his primary marketing slogan, a motif that WWE has incorporated into his merchandise and video packages.
