Joe Hendry has a knack for making the inconceivable a actuality. It is how he is cultivated such a large swathe of believers. The TNA world champion arguably obtained a louder ovation than any WWE celebrity on the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble. Now he is planted the seeds for one thing much more bold: a match with John Cena.
“John laid down the problem. He mentioned it is on me to make it occur. I settle for that problem,” Hendry instructed CBS Sports activities. “I must rise to the event to make that one of probably the most compelling matchups in skilled wrestling. John mentioned if I can generate the thrill to the purpose the place the events that want to need that match to occur, he’ll be there for it.”
Hendry and Cena had an in depth dialog on the Rumble in Indianapolis. In response to Hendry, Cena shared phrases of knowledge and conditionally accepted his request for a match between them. The burden falls on Hendry to make the match of simple fan curiosity. That is an incredible activity. Cena is arguably the best WWE celebrity of all time and a bonafide Hollywood star. Hendry, regardless of his exceptional rise and standing as coveted TNA world champion, has a mountain to climb as a non-WWE performer.
If Cena’s problem wasn’t daring sufficient, it additionally comes with a time restrict. The 16-time world champion is at present on his farewell tour. Cena will retire on the finish of 2025 and everybody needs a task in his remaining in-ring yr.
“We do not have plenty of time left,” Hendry mentioned. “That’s the matchup I am searching for. It is an enormous purpose for me this yr and in my profession. John Cena was the first wrestler I ever spoke to once I was 15 years outdated. The matchup means lots to me.”
Cena vs. Hendry is about greater than profession accomplishments. It is a story 20 years within the making. Cena was Hendry’s favourite professional wrestler. It is Cena who sparked Hendry’s curiosity within the enterprise. Naturally, a 15-year-old Hendry was saddened when he could not attend a neighborhood meet-and-greet together with his hero. Till he obtained the telephone name of a lifetime. Hendry’s pal, who went to the meet-and-greet with out him, instructed Cena of his predicament. Cena agreed to name Hendry, holding up a fan queue for 10 minutes to talk with him. That teenager can be blown away to assume a match with Cena would ever be on the desk.
“In a wierd means, it was an analogous scenario. He gave me time when he did not must once I was 15. He gave me time when he did not must over [Royal Rumble] weekend,” Hendry mentioned. “It was a really full-circle second for me.
“However, actually, I feel that 15-year-old can be blown away and extremely proud. As a result of that 15-year-old actually did not assume he was able to a lot. I assume I’ve proved to him that we’ll obtain one thing.”
Studying that Hendry as soon as thought so little of himself is jarring. Missing self-confidence is the antithesis of his model. His theme music is titled, “I Imagine In Joe Hendry” — a music that went viral on social media and peaked at No. 4 on the UK’s Official Massive High 40 charts. However very like Hendry encourages followers to consider in him, he additionally has discovered to consider in himself.
Hendry vividly remembers the day he broke his dad’s coronary heart. Hendry’s father had inspired his son to pursue a black belt in Judo, however Hendry mentioned that individuals like him weren’t minimize out for such achievements. Poetically, Hendry was gifted with inconceivable self-belief the day he was lastly awarded that honor.
“I am only a regular man giving it my finest and attempting to get this finished. I assume individuals establish with that,” Hendry mentioned. “I did not come into sports activities or lecturers with an abundance of expertise. I’ve needed to work actually laborious to turn out to be proficient.
“It did not really feel like a lot got here naturally to me at a excessive degree.”
The Royal Rumble is one instance of Hendry’s ambitiousness. Hendry’s raucous shock look on the Royal Rumble performed out in entrance of roughly 70,000 followers. Hendry describes it as “an unfathomable quantity of individuals.” And despite the fact that the deal got here collectively very near the date — Hendry had booked a number of appearances in Indianapolis simply in case — Hendry willed it into existence a yr earlier than.
“I walked into my college students after the final Rumble when Jordynne [Grace] appeared. I mentioned to them, ‘Mark my phrases, I will be in that subsequent Rumble.’ And I used to be,” Hendry mentioned. “I instructed individuals I might win this [TNA] championship and I did. I’ve delivered and executed on each single factor I mentioned I used to be going to.”
WWE and TNA formally introduced a multi-year partnership this yr after working collectively ceaselessly in 2024. However seeing the TNA world championship on a serious WWE pay-per-view remains to be unbelievable. Hendry is proud to be on this place, seeing it as a chance to offer again to the corporate that has invested a lot in him.
“I keep in mind watching AJ Kinds come from TNA Wrestling and coming into the Royal Rumble,” Hendry mentioned. “I used to be considering, ‘Woah, what a solution to make an influence!’ Pun supposed, if you’ll. I felt like it will be such a ridiculous notion that I might sooner or later do the identical factor.
“TNA actually elevated me and gave me the event I wanted to be the skilled wrestler I knew I might be. Now it is my flip to return the favor and elevate this championship, which is already a massively prestigious championship… I need to generate enterprise for TNA and contribute so different individuals can get the event that I received. It is such an essential firm in skilled wrestling.”
Try the complete interview with Joe Hendry beneath.
How can Hendry procure sufficient curiosity to make the match a actuality? He is doing it daily. He is lobbying for it on social media, in interviews and rallying his extensive Web fanbase round a second as highly effective because the dream that fuels it.
“I consider I used to be given the fantastic alternative of being within the Royal Rumble as a result of it was nice for the followers, it was nice for TNA and hopefully I contributed one thing to WWE within the course of,” Hendry mentioned. “I feel the identical logic must be utilized to the John Cena match.
“If I can generate sufficient buzz the place I can contribute, then it is a risk. Nevertheless it’s very a lot on me. To be clear, similar to the Rumble, individuals have been asking me concerning the Rumble for over a yr earlier than it occurred. I didn’t know till shortly earlier than however I deliberate as if it have been going to occur. I am enjoying to win and it’s important to on this sport.”
The TNA world champion squaring off with Cena, WWE’s main man from 2005 to 2015, was as soon as reserved for fantasy matchmaking and video video games. In 2025, it is unlikely however not inconceivable. There may not be a greater underdog to place your chips on in 2025. There is a cause so many individuals consider in Joe Hendry.
“I belief my intestine as a result of that is all you have on this sport,” Hendry mentioned. “Trusting my intestine has received me to an unimaginable place proper now. I am trusting my intestine that going for this John Cena match is the best factor to do.”
