Joe Hendry applying lessons from CM Punk, John Cena as NXT Champion
During his NXT Championship reign, Joe Hendry is applying lessons he’s learned from CM Punk and John Cena.
Hendry told The Takedown on SI that elevating the NXT Championship and helping to elevate NXT as a brand is the major objective he has for his title reign. He is keeping a close eye on business metrics like live attendance and TV ratings, which is a habit Hendry picked up by seeing top guys like Punk and Cena do the same.
“It’s a huge responsibility. Being the champion is a rare privilege,” Hendry said. “And when you are the champion, there is now pressure on your shoulder to try and help elevate the ticket sales. You need to be aware of ratings. You need to be aware of locker room morale. You need to try and lead by example. There’s a lot of pressure. But like I said, I’ve spent a lot of time at the Performance Center. I’m really, really enjoying the training, and I feel like we’ve got a real team environment down there. We’re divided into different groups, and I feel like my group is just — we’re so motivated, the roster is hungry, and it’s an exciting time. So to be the one that gets to wear this championship and spearhead the brand right now, it’s a huge honor and it’s a responsibility that I take very seriously. Every championship title reign has a story, and I want the story to be that I was able to elevate the championship and help elevate the brand…
“Anytime I get to a live event, my first question is to ask, ‘Where are we at with the draw? Where were we last time?’ And I’ve learned that from, CM Punk does that, John Cena did that, all the top talents did that. So I’ve tried to learn as much as I can from these guys. I’ve been fortunate enough to spend time with these guys and learn from them. And that is one thing I’ve noticed, is that they’re very hands-on with the stats and knowing what they are. And, yes, it’s pressure, but in this game pressure is a privilege.”
Cena, Punk, and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson are some of Hendry’s biggest insipirations. He hasn’t gotten the chance to meet Johnson yet, but Hendry did work with Johnson’s daughter Simone (Ava) when she was the NXT general manager.
“I was happy to let her know that it was her dad that inspired me to get into the business, so we had a really nice conversation about that,” Hendry told The Takedown on SI. “I absolutely wish her the best. I think she was doing an awesome job. We had some great moments on TV. So whatever’s next, I wish her the absolute best. And it was fun working with her.”
Hendry is defending the NXT Championship against Ricky Saints at Vengeance Day this Saturday. On NXT last night, Hendry stood tall heading into the PLE.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.