Joe Hendry has made no secret of his ambition since arriving in WWE, and the former NXT Champion believes his track record gives him a legitimate case to become one of the company’s biggest attractions.
After emerging as one of TNA Wrestling’s most talked-about stars across 2024 and 2025, Hendry made the jump to WWE, captured the NXT Championship and became a regular presence on Raw after joining the red brand at the beginning of the year. Now, with broader television exposure and several visible projects underway, Hendry has set a clear target for the next stage of his career: becoming a performer who can measurably move business for WWE.
Hendry addressed those aspirations in a recent interview, emphasizing that his confidence is rooted not simply in ambition, but in the audience response and measurable results he has already generated throughout his rise.
“I’m just always looking to get better at what I do,” Hendry said. “I know in my heart that I can be a top draw for WWE. I know people have things to say about that, but the truth is I know that I can be a top guy, I know that I can be an asset to the professional wrestling business because I have the metrics to prove it. And those are facts, you know?”
For more background on this topic, read Penta Reveals Family Helped Him Make His WWE Decision.
Hendry Points to His Record of Reaching Audiences
Hendry’s rise has been closely tied to his ability to create moments that travel far beyond a single wrestling broadcast. His presentation, music and personality helped turn him into a major talking point during his time in TNA, while his appearances in WWE further expanded his audience. Rather than presenting his case solely in terms of titles or positioning, Hendry specifically cited the digital and merchandise performance attached to his career milestones.
Among the accomplishments he highlighted was having the most-viewed clip in professional wrestling in 2024. He also pointed to wrestling Randy Orton at WrestleMania, a match and moment that he said performed extremely strongly across social media, as well as the sales of his WrestleMania shirt.
“I had the most viewed clip in all of wrestling in 2024,” Hendry said. “I wrestled Randy Orton at WrestleMania, which did insane numbers on social media. My WrestleMania shirt was a bestseller. I won the NXT Championship.”
Those points reflect the modern reality of what being a top wrestling star can involve. Live crowd reactions, television segments and championship success remain central to WWE, but performers are also judged by their ability to generate attention across digital platforms, merchandise channels and the wider entertainment landscape. Hendry’s career has given him a distinct profile in that environment, particularly because his act is structured around an instantly recognizable identity and audience participation.
The former NXT Champion sees those previous results as evidence that he can contribute on an even larger scale if he continues developing the complete set of skills necessary to thrive in WWE.
“I have the metrics to prove that I can draw in the professional wrestling business, and my goal is to be somebody who can deliver for the company,” Hendry said.
A Clear Standard for What Comes Next
Hendry also referenced comments from WWE President Nick Khan about the kind of talent WWE seeks: performers who can make an immediate impact on the company or demonstrate the capacity to do so in the near future. Hendry believes his history of attracting viewers and generating engagement places him in that conversation.
“I saw in an interview that [WWE President] Nick Khan was asked what WWE is looking for from talent,” Hendry said. “It is someone that can move the needle for the company immediately or in the near future. I believe that I’m somebody who can do that.”
That is a significant standard, particularly within a roster filled with established names and emerging prospects competing for valuable television time. Hendry is not suggesting that his past achievements alone guarantee future positioning. Instead, he framed his current objective around applying the evidence from those accomplishments while continuing to improve the areas required of a leading WWE star.
His comments repeatedly returned to growth. Hendry’s confidence is substantial, but he also acknowledged the work still ahead of him. The focus is on becoming more polished and more effective as quickly as possible, with the ultimate goal of consistently delivering results for the company.
“I’ve had metrics in the past to prove that I think I can be a top guy for WWE,” Hendry said. “So I’m looking to acquire the skills to do that as quickly as I can.”
That approach matters because Hendry’s WWE path has already included several important transitions. He first became a breakout name outside WWE, then entered the WWE system, won the NXT Championship and moved into a steady role on Raw. Every step has increased the expectation around what he can become, while also introducing him to a different level of weekly exposure and pressure.
Raw Rivalry With JD McDonagh Keeps Hendry in Focus
Hendry’s confidence about his ceiling comes while he remains active on Raw. In recent weeks, he has been taking aim at JD McDonagh, using a Funko Pop as part of his mockery of the Judgment Day member. The ongoing comedy has provided Hendry with a recognizable thread on WWE programming and plays directly into the personality-driven style that has made him stand out.
The Funko Pop material is another example of Hendry using a simple visual idea to support his character work. Whether the angle develops into a more formal in-ring confrontation or remains centered on verbal and comedic jabs, it has kept Hendry involved in a weekly WWE story and given audiences another opportunity to respond to his distinctive presentation.
For Hendry, the key will be converting attention into lasting momentum. Viral clips, merchandise success and memorable appearances can establish a foundation, but the path to being a top draw requires maintaining a connection with viewers over time. WWE’s largest stars are asked to produce on multiple fronts: in-ring performance, character development, promotional work, live events, media appearances and the ability to make feuds feel meaningful.
Hendry’s stated desire to acquire those skills reflects an awareness of that full job description. His background has already demonstrated an ability to make himself a conversation point. His task now is to keep evolving within WWE’s environment and make the case that his appeal can translate from notable moments into sustained top-level drawing power.
Agent of Shadows Adds Another Platform
Outside the ring, Hendry is also part of WWE’s first-ever microdrama, Agent of Shadows, which premieres on October 23. The project gives him another platform within WWE’s expanding entertainment output and further places him in front of audiences beyond a standard wrestling segment.
For a performer who places substantial value on measurable reach, a role in a new WWE media initiative is a fitting addition to his current momentum. It also underscores the increasingly broad range of opportunities available to talent who can connect in different formats. Hendry’s profile has been built around his ability to make an impression quickly, and a microdrama format offers another setting in which that quality can be tested.
Nothing about Hendry’s statement guarantees a particular title program or a defined timetable for his rise. He did not claim that he has already arrived as WWE’s top star. What he did make clear is that he sees himself as someone capable of reaching that tier, and that he believes his past performance provides tangible support for the claim.
Between his NXT Championship reign, WrestleMania exposure opposite Orton, strong social-media results, successful merchandise and an ongoing Raw presence, Hendry has assembled a résumé that gives him plenty to build on. His next challenge is turning that foundation into the type of consistent impact that makes him indispensable to WWE’s biggest programs.
Hendry is setting the bar high for himself. He believes he can move the needle, and he is openly measuring his future against the standard of becoming a top WWE draw. The coming months on Raw, along with his work in Agent of Shadows, will provide further opportunities for him to prove that belief in front of WWE’s widest possible audience.
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.