Joe Hendry is now a star in the WWE after years in the independent scene and in TNA and ROH. Appearing “Insight with Chris Van Vliet” Hendry detailed another aspect of his background: his amateur wrestling career.
“I think the thing about my amateur wrestling days is that it’s me, it’s very unusual,” Hendry said. “It all started because I had just started pro wrestling… and I realized that people weren’t taking me seriously.”
While he’s perfectly fine using comedy in his wrestling, Hendry also wanted to be respected as a threat in the ring as well. He already had some history with judo, but Hendry decided to train as a grappler as well. It was something he felt came naturally to him.
“MMA has come a long way, but back when it was happening, this was like 12 years ago when MMA wasn’t that big in the UK and I was just going to MMA gyms and roasting everybody in fights,” Hendry continued.
That was only short-lived, however, as he eventually moved on to a more serious gym in Scotland and found himself facing more talented competition. That included former UFC fighter Paul Craig.
“I don’t know if I ever took him down, to be honest,” Hendry said.
Joe Hendry becomes British champion, enters the Commonwealth Games
Having beaten a wrestler who was due to compete in the Commonwealth Games, Hendry decided to take the opportunity to enter. He continued training and won the British freestyle wrestling championships for his weight class before competing at the Commonwealth Games.
“It was one of the greatest days of my life,” he said. “So that I can call my father on the phone and say: “I’m the British Champion!” …I don’t often get excited. … I’ll never forget that phone call.”
In 2018 Hendry joined the Scotland squad for the Commonwealth Games in Australia. First, he was supposed to face Australian UFC fighter Robert Whittaker.
“I feel like I’m living in a simulation because don’t tell me a professional wrestler is going to face the UFC middleweight champion at the Commonwealth Games,” Hendry said.
Hendry reached out to UFC veteran and pro wrestling fan Chael Sonnen before the fight, looking for advice. According to Hendry, he knew he was outnumbered, but Sonnen encouraged him to talk some trash regardless. Sonnen wrote a promo for Hendry to run, but the fight never happened as Whittaker learned he would have to vacate his UFC title if he decided to compete at the Commonwealth Games.
“Then I went and got beat up by somebody else,” Hendry said, laughing at the situation.
After competing in the Games, Hendry felt he had to make a decision to focus on one specific aspect of his life, and that was pro wrestling. For the next several years, Hendry devoted all his energy to wrestling, and after opening his footing through WWE’s partnership with TNA, Hendry signed a contract with a bigger company in 2025.
If you use any quotes from this article, credit “Insight” and credit ah/t Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
