Joe Hendry has made two of his biggest WWE objectives abundantly clear since arriving on the Raw brand: he wants to become a world champion, and he wants Logan Paul out of the company. When asked to choose between those two ambitions, however, Hendry was not prepared to sacrifice either one.
During an appearance on Busted Open Radio, Hendry was presented with a “would you rather” scenario by Nic Nemeth. The premise was simple but difficult: would Hendry rather see Paul fired by WWE, or win a WWE world title himself?
Hendry’s immediate response was to look for a way around the choice.
“That’s tough. Can I not do both?” Hendry said.
For more background on this topic, read John Cena Imagines a Wild GTA 6 Cameo Built Around WWE’s Biggest Memes.
While Hendry ultimately did not make a firm selection, his answer outlined why both outcomes matter so much to him. In his view, Paul’s departure would reach beyond a conventional wrestling rivalry or a personal victory. At the same time, Hendry acknowledged the individual drive that comes with pursuing the biggest championship prize in WWE.
“That is a great question. Both would be incredible for the business,” Hendry said. “That’s really tough because part of me thinks that if I could fire Logan Paul, that’s like beyond wrestling. That is forever affecting the course of history. But also, we all have to admit we’re all selfish pieces of you know what. We’re in the wrestling business and I have to be world champ. I’m sorry. I’m sorry to the world. I just think you have to dream big. I just can’t limit myself to one. I just can’t do it.”
Hendry’s two major WWE priorities
The response is consistent with the position Hendry has taken since his rise to WWE’s main roster in the spring of 2026. His move to Raw brought him into a larger spotlight and gave him the opportunity to pursue championships on WWE’s flagship brand. It also intensified his campaign against Paul, a campaign Hendry has framed in unusually direct terms.
Rather than treating Paul as simply another high-profile opponent, Hendry has repeatedly pushed for WWE to remove him from the roster altogether. That effort has become a notable part of Hendry’s presentation. He even released a song and music video centered on the idea of Paul being fired, using the musical style that has long been associated with his wrestling persona to turn his grievance into a broader fan-facing message.
Hendry’s comments on Busted Open Radio indicate that the campaign is not merely a passing talking point. He views the possibility of Paul’s firing as a consequential development, one he believes could have a lasting effect. His wording also shows that he sees no reason his crusade against Paul should prevent him from chasing the top prize in WWE at the same time.
That combination is important. Hendry is not positioning himself as someone whose identity is defined only by opposition to Paul. He also remains focused on the central competitive goal shared by virtually every wrestler who reaches WWE’s main roster: winning a world championship.
Logan Paul remains part of WWE
For now, Hendry’s effort has not produced the result he wants. Paul remains signed with WWE months after Hendry began publicly calling for his termination.
Paul was most recently seen around the Money in the Bank event, where he was involved in the ongoing situation between Oba Femi and Bronson Reed. His continued presence makes clear that Hendry has not succeeded in forcing the issue, regardless of how loudly or creatively he has made his case.
That reality leaves Hendry with an unresolved conflict that can continue to follow him on Raw. Paul’s status in WWE remains secure at present, while Hendry’s stated goal remains unchanged. The fact that Paul has been connected to the business involving Femi and Reed also means there are multiple major personalities occupying the same WWE landscape, even if Hendry has not yet reached a decisive confrontation with Paul.
Hendry’s remarks did not reveal a new plan to remove Paul from WWE, nor did he suggest that an immediate match or official stipulation had been set. Instead, he spoke in broad terms about the significance of both outcomes. The lack of a definitive choice may be the most revealing part of the exchange: Hendry believes his ambitions are too substantial to be reduced to a single preference.
A champion’s mindset remains central
Despite the attention given to Hendry’s issue with Paul, the world-title portion of his answer carries equal weight. Hendry has already experienced what it means to hold a world championship outside WWE. He previously captured world title gold in TNA Wrestling, establishing a major achievement on his résumé before his move up WWE’s roster.
That past success does not lessen the importance of a WWE world title to him. If anything, Hendry’s answer makes the opposite point. He openly accepted that wrestlers are driven by personal ambition, then stated that becoming world champion is something he feels he has to accomplish.
“I have to be world champ” was the clearest expression of that mindset. Hendry did not specify which WWE world championship he is targeting, and he did not place a timetable on the goal. Still, the message was unmistakable: reaching the main roster has not satisfied his ambition. He wants to reach the top of the mountain in WWE as well.
That is a natural next step for a performer who has already held a world title in TNA. Hendry arrives in WWE with championship experience, but a WWE main-roster environment presents a separate challenge. A previous world title establishes that he has competed at that level before; it does not guarantee another reign in a new promotion, on a new roster, or within a different championship picture.
Hendry has yet to win a title since moving to WWE’s main roster. The absence of championship gold so far gives greater urgency to his words, but it also provides a clear direction for what comes next. Whether he is involved with Paul, navigating Raw’s wider roster, or pursuing another prominent opponent, the destination remains the same: a WWE world championship.
Why Hendry refused the premise
In wrestling, hypothetical questions often force performers to reveal which motivation sits at the center of their character. Hendry’s answer did reveal something, but not necessarily a simple preference. He sees the two goals as operating on different levels.
Having Paul fired would represent a victory in Hendry’s larger argument about who should and should not be in WWE. Hendry described it as something that would extend “beyond wrestling,” suggesting he considers it a far-reaching accomplishment rather than a normal feud payoff.
Winning the world title, meanwhile, would fulfill the competitive and personal objective that drives him as a wrestler. Hendry did not hide that element behind lofty language. He candidly described the self-interest involved in wanting to become champion, but he did not present that self-interest as a flaw. In his telling, dreaming big is essential, and limiting himself to one major goal would run counter to that approach.
The answer also preserves both stories. Hendry can continue to seek Paul’s dismissal while pursuing championship opportunities. One does not need to cancel out the other, and Hendry clearly does not believe he should have to abandon either path.
What lies ahead for Joe Hendry
Hendry remains without a WWE main-roster championship, and Paul remains employed by WWE. As matters stand, neither of the outcomes raised in the hypothetical has been achieved.
That leaves Hendry in a position where his next major steps can carry dual meaning. A move toward title contention would advance the dream he says he cannot ignore. Any further development involving Paul would also test the campaign Hendry has pursued since joining Raw. If those paths eventually intersect, Hendry’s refusal to choose may look less like avoiding a question and more like setting the terms for his WWE future.
For now, Hendry’s stance is straightforward. He does not want to settle for a symbolic win over Logan Paul if it means giving up on becoming a WWE world champion. Nor does he want a championship pursuit to require him to stop calling for Paul’s exit. Hendry wants both, and he has made no apology for aiming at the largest possible outcomes.
In pictures
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.