Joe Hendry has identified the scenario that would represent the biggest match of his WWE career: competing for a World Championship in Scotland. And if he could choose the man standing across the ring from him, Hendry says he would pick CM Punk.
The Scottish star discussed his ideal future match during an interview with SA Live, explaining that he has already checked off several personal milestones in professional wrestling. Even so, he sees a world title contest in his home country as a goal that would stand above everything else he has accomplished to date.
“That is a great question. I’m proud to say I’ve had some of my dream matches, but you know what, it doesn’t get any bigger than fighting for the World Championship,” Hendry said. “So, I have to say I would say facing someone for a championship in Scotland would be a dream for me.”
When asked to name a specific WWE roster member for that dream encounter, Hendry did not hesitate to select Punk.
For more background on this topic, read Paige Challenges Nikki Bella to SmackDown Rematch on October 16.
“But if I could pick any individual member of the roster right now, I’m going to go for CM Punk.”
It is an ambitious target, but one that fits Hendry’s trajectory since arriving in WWE. The former TNA World Champion has built a reputation on confidence, crowd connection, and an ability to make major moments feel larger than life. A world title match in Scotland, particularly against a star of Punk’s stature, would combine each of those elements in what Hendry clearly views as a career-defining setting.
Hendry’s WWE Momentum Continues
Hendry entered WWE with considerable momentum after a successful run in TNA Wrestling, where he held the TNA World Championship. His rise had already made him one of the more recognizable Scottish performers in the industry, and his transition to WWE has given him a new stage on which to pursue even larger objectives.
Earlier this year, Hendry captured the NXT Championship, marking his first championship achievement under the WWE banner. Winning the NXT title was a significant accomplishment in its own right, particularly for a performer who had already established himself outside WWE before making the move. It demonstrated that Hendry could succeed in the company’s system and contend at the highest level of its developmental brand.
His subsequent call-up to the main roster has presented a different challenge. Hendry is currently part of the WWE Raw roster and has been working within the brand’s mid-card picture. He has yet to capture a championship on Raw or SmackDown, but the comments about his dream match make clear that he is not limiting his long-term ambitions to simply getting established on the main roster.
For Hendry, the ultimate objective is a World Championship opportunity. That is the kind of aspiration expected from any competitor entering WWE, but the Scotland component gives his stated dream a particularly personal dimension. Competing on home soil has long carried special significance for wrestlers from outside the United States, especially when the audience has an opportunity to celebrate one of its own in a match of genuine consequence.
Why CM Punk Is a Natural Choice
Punk remains one of WWE’s most prominent stars and is positioned at the top of the card on WWE SmackDown. Hendry has not yet shared the ring with Punk, making the proposed matchup a fresh possibility rather than a revisit of previous history.
There is also a compelling contrast between the two personalities. Hendry’s presentation is driven by charisma, audience participation, and a uniquely self-assured approach that has made him a memorable presence wherever he has performed. Punk brings a different kind of aura: the experience of a proven main-event figure, the intensity of a competitor who has spent years in high-pressure championship environments, and the reputation of someone whose biggest matches routinely arrive with major expectations attached.
A Hendry-Punk match would therefore carry obvious appeal even before considering a title or a Scottish location. Hendry would be attempting to prove that he belongs in the ring with one of WWE’s most established headliners. Punk, meanwhile, would be facing a performer still pushing to turn main-roster potential into sustained championship-level status.
At present, the brands create a practical obstacle. Hendry is on Raw, while Punk competes on SmackDown. WWE has shown in the past that brand lines can shift depending on major events, championship situations, and creative direction, but no Hendry-Punk match has been announced. For now, it remains a dream scenario voiced by Hendry rather than an imminent program.
Still, the fact that Hendry chose Punk rather than speaking only in broad terms says something about where he intends to go. He is not merely seeking a marquee opponent. He is looking toward a match against a top-level name, with the World Championship at stake, in front of a home-country audience that would be fully invested in his success.
Learning From WWE’s Established Main-Event Talent
Hendry’s comments also arrive as he continues to learn from several of WWE’s most accomplished performers. Punk is one of the names Hendry has identified as an influence during his climb, alongside Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.
That is a valuable group of veterans to observe. Orton’s longevity and command of the big-match atmosphere have made him one of WWE’s defining stars across multiple eras. Rhodes has become one of the company’s central figures through persistence, reinvention, and a rise that ultimately led him to the very top of WWE. Punk brings his own perspective as a performer whose connection with fans and ability to make high-stakes stories feel personal have been essential parts of his career.
For a wrestler in Hendry’s position, learning from stars such as Punk, Orton, and Rhodes goes beyond studying offense or in-ring mechanics. It means seeing how elite performers handle the demands of television, major live audiences, championship expectations, and the constant pressure that comes with occupying a top spot in WWE.
Hendry already has experience as a world champion from his time in TNA, so his ambition is grounded in previous success rather than simple wishful thinking. But WWE’s main roster brings its own level of competition and visibility. Moving from the Raw mid-card into the world-title conversation requires consistency, high-profile victories, and the ability to remain compelling when the stakes rise.
A Scotland Match Would Carry Unique Stakes
The prospect of Hendry challenging for a World Championship in Scotland would naturally be bigger than a standard title defense. A homecoming setting can amplify every part of a match: the entrance, the crowd reaction, the pressure on the hometown competitor, and the emotional impact of either victory or defeat.
For Hendry, whose connection with audiences has been a defining part of his appeal, the atmosphere could be especially important. His personality thrives on audience involvement, and a Scottish WWE crowd would likely offer a level of familiarity and investment that cannot easily be replicated elsewhere. The chance to pursue a world title in that environment would be the culmination of a journey from Scottish wrestling standout to a competitor on WWE’s global platform.
That does not mean the destination is guaranteed. Hendry has yet to win a championship on the main roster, and Punk’s place near the top of SmackDown means there are several steps between the current landscape and the match Hendry described. Both the title picture and the roster alignment would need to create the right opening.
However, Hendry’s goal is now clear. He wants a World Championship match in Scotland, and he wants CM Punk as the opponent. It is the kind of vision that gives a rising main-roster talent a defined target: not just to compete on Raw, but to grow into a name capable of headlining an international WWE event.
Having already won the NXT Championship and previously held the TNA World Championship, Hendry has proven he can reach championship heights. The next challenge is translating that record into a sustained climb on WWE’s main roster. Whether or not Punk eventually becomes the opponent, Hendry has set the standard for what he wants his biggest WWE moment to be.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.