Joe Hendry went from performing in small community halls to signing a full-time WWE contract on November 13, 2025, propelled by a viral entrance theme that genuinely topped music charts. His “I Believe in Joe Hendry” song didn’t just become a wrestling meme—it hit #4 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart and beat Taylor Swift on iTunes UK for a day.
Biography
Joseph Samuel Hendry was born on May 1, 1988, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Unlike many wrestlers who knew their calling from childhood, Hendry took a distinctly academic route first. He attended Stewart’s Melville College, one of Edinburgh’s prestigious schools, before going on to Heriot-Watt University, where he earned a First-Class Master’s degree in Business and Marketing.
Before wrestling even entered the picture, Hendry spent ten years as the lead singer for a band called Lost in Audio. They came tantalizingly close to a record deal with Sony Music but never quite made it. That near-miss with musical success must have stung, especially since his wrestling entrance theme would later achieve the chart success that eluded his band for a decade.
Hendry also built legitimate combat sports credentials that separate him from pure entertainment wrestlers. He holds a black belt in Judo and represented Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. He won the British Senior National Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling during the 2017-2018 season.
At 26 years old, relatively late for the wrestling business, Hendry began professional training at Glasgow’s Source Wrestling School. Under the guidance of trainers including Damian Mackle (who wrestled as Killian Dain in WWE), Mikey Whiplash, and Robbie Brookside, Hendry made his professional debut in October 2013 with the Scottish Wrestling Alliance. The Local Hero was born.
Career
Hendry’s early career centred around Scotland’s Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW), where he developed the gimmick that would define his career: creating custom parody entrance songs to mock his opponents. He reworked Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” for James R. Kennedy, turned the EastEnders theme against Sha Samuels, and brilliantly parodied “I’m Blue” by Eiffel 65 to target Drew McIntyre. These were psychologically effective ways to get under opponents’ skin while entertaining crowds.
Between 2013 and 2022, Hendry accumulated championship gold across the British independent scene. He captured the ICW Tag Team Championship, WCPW Championship, and the Discovery Wrestling Y Division Championship, which he held for an incredible 1,280 days. He performed for Ring of Honor, WhatCulture Pro Wrestling, New Generation Wrestling, and World of Sport Wrestling.
His character evolved from “The Local Hero” to “The Prestigious One” following a 2017 heel turn. Leading a stable called “The Prestige,” Hendry promoted a philosophy that professional wrestling was broken and his group would fix it.
TNA Breakthrough and World Championship Glory
Hendry’s second stint with TNA (starting September 2022) coincided with the company’s partnership with WWE, giving him unprecedented exposure. He won the Impact Digital Media Championship in October 2022, holding it for a record 266 days. But it was his “I Believe in Joe Hendry” entrance theme—originally released on YouTube back in October 2019—that suddenly caught fire in 2024.
The song’s design was brilliantly calculated. Hendry set it at 120 beats per minute, matching Queen’s “We Will Rock You” for crowd participation. The two-part structure borrowed from The Rock’s “Hollywood Rock” theme, and visual cues literally showed audiences what to do. As Hendry explained, he reverse-engineered the entire thing based on what crowd reaction he wanted.
On January 19, 2025, Hendry defeated Nic Nemeth at Genesis to capture the TNA World Championship—his first world title after grinding for 12 years. The 126-day reign included defences against Matt Cardona, Jake Something, Hammerstone, and a historic triple threat at Rebellion 2025. What made this reign special wasn’t just the victories—it was what came next.
Hendry became the first TNA World Champion to compete in WWE’s Royal Rumble (February 2025, entering at #15 before Roman Reigns eliminated him) and at WrestleMania 41 (April 2025, where he faced Randy Orton). Though he lost to Orton in just over three minutes before 60,000 fans, the moment represented something bigger.
He eventually lost the TNA World Championship to Trick Williams at NXT Battleground on May 25, 2025, marking the first time a TNA World Championship defence occurred on a WWE premium live event.
His Viral Explosion
April 2024 was Hendry’s inflexion point. He launched a strategic TikTok campaign, inserting himself into scenes from Interstellar, The Sopranos, and various TV shows, always accompanied by his entrance theme. Fans created their own versions. A Mexican band recorded a norteño cover. The song exploded across multiple continents.
When Hendry officially released “I Believe in Joe Hendry” as a single on streaming platforms on April 29, 2024, fans organically pushed it up the charts. It reached #1 on iTunes UK Daily Sales, briefly overtaking Taylor Swift. It hit #4 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart, #6 on UK Singles Sales Charts, and even charted in the Philippines (#28), Malta (#1), and Ireland (#3). For someone who spent a decade in a band without commercial success, vindication doesn’t begin to describe it.
His NXT debut on June 18, 2024, generated 21-22 million views on X (formerly Twitter), becoming WWE’s most-liked video since WrestleMania XL. The camera visibly shook from crowd reaction as thousands sang every word.
WWE Signing
On November 13, 2025, Hendry officially signed a full-time, exclusive WWE contract. Shawn Michaels, NXT’s executive producer, served as his primary advocate, pushing WWE to buy out the remaining months of his TNA contract early. Randy Orton personally hand-picked him for WrestleMania 41, and Triple H texted him directly with the opportunity. Currently assigned to WWE’s NXT brand, Hendry is scheduled for NXT Gold Rush on November 18, 2025, at Madison Square Garden’s Theatre, where he’ll team with Thea Hail for the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Championship.
At 6’2″ and 229 pounds, Hendry brings legitimate grappling skills from his amateur wrestling background, combined with high-impact offence and strong crowd psychology. His primary finisher, the Standing Ovation, perfectly captures his ability to blend technical ability with showmanship. With over 595 documented matches (293 wins, 243 losses, 15 draws), he’s developed into what industry insiders call a complete performer.
Personal Life
Despite achieving viral fame and mainstream recognition, Hendry maintains a strict level of privacy regarding his romantic relationships. Multiple sources confirm he’s single with no children, deliberately keeping his personal life separate from his public persona.
His uncle, Drew Hendry, is a Scottish National Party politician and former MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey; however, Hendry rarely discusses his family publicly. Outside of wrestling, he’s building a recording studio in Scotland to work on music projects during downtime from the road. He announced plans for a Christmas charity single in October 2024, aiming to secure a UK Christmas #1 while raising money for charity.
Hendry runs a wrestling training academy (the Discovery/Joe Hendry Academy) and maintains an active social media presence across Instagram (547,000 followers), TikTok (170,500 followers), and YouTube. His stated dream job outside wrestling? Writing for South Park. Given his sense of humour and parody skills, he’d probably be brilliant at it.
Net Worth
Hendry’s estimated net worth is between $1 million and $ 2 million as of November 2025. That figure comes from wrestling contracts, music streaming revenue, merchandise sales, independent bookings, and social media ventures. His income streams now include his WWE contract, ongoing royalties from “I Believe in Joe Hendry” (which continue to generate streaming revenue), and merchandise available through ProWrestlingTees, TNAMerch, Hot Topic, and his personal stores. He also earns through Cameo appearances, YouTube ad income, and his wrestling academy.
The WWE signing represents his most significant financial upgrade. Whilst TNA’s top performers earned approximately $100,000-$150,000 annually with lighter travel schedules, WWE’s NXT brand pays $80,000-$150,000 for established talent, with top performers reaching the higher end. Should Hendry receive a main roster call-up—which seems likely given his demonstrated ability to generate buzz—he would earn WWE’s minimum primary roster salary of $350,000, with potential for much higher earnings depending on merchandise sales, bonuses, and positioning.
The financial implications extend beyond base salary, though. WWE’s global platform exponentially increases merchandise reach, social media growth, and outside opportunities. His viral success makes him particularly valuable for WWE’s digital strategy, as his content generates millions of views organically. Industry analysts note that wrestlers who arrive with built-in fanbases and proven viral appeal—like Hendry—often negotiate premium contracts and receive accelerated pushes.
