Joe Hendry is officially on top of NXT, but don’t expect him to talk about bright lights or dream matchups just yet.
During a conversation with Denise Salcedo, the Joe Hendry opened up about finally winning the WWE NXT Championship and what the moment really means to him inside WWE. When asked whether becoming NXT Champion lived up to everything he hoped for — and what his goals are now — Hendry didn’t focus on celebration. Instead, he pointed straight to the work he’s put in behind the scenes.
Before even officially joining WWE full-time, Hendry was already training at the Performance Center through a partnership arrangement. For him, this championship represents far more than a belt — it represents years of commitment to the process.
“Um, honestly, it was uh — I mean, it’s hard, it’s hard to put into words because I worked so hard for this.”
Hendry made it clear this wasn’t an overnight breakthrough. It was the result of showing up daily and pushing himself to grow inside WWE’s developmental system.
“When I joined WWE, even before when I joined WWE, um the way the partnership was, I was able to train at the Performance Center. So for me, this championship is really the physical embodiment of being at the Performance Center every day and learning as much as I can and committing to the process at the Performance Center and just giving 100% every day on a daily basis to learn more about what it takes to be a WWE superstar and going through that process.”
He didn’t stop there. Hendry also credited the coaches who helped shape him on his journey to the top of NXT, making it clear that this win belongs to more than just him.
“Um so I’m proud to have done that. I’m proud to train with Terry Taylor every day and to learn from Shawn Michaels every week and, you know, and get coaching direction from Matt Bloom on what I need to work on next. And so to actually be the champion now and represent NXT, it’s an unbelievable feeling and uh I take a lot of pride in that.”
For Hendry, this isn’t about ego — it’s about proof. Proof that the grind works. Proof that committing to the system can pay off. And now, as NXT Champion, he’s carrying not just a title but the responsibility of representing the brand that helped build him.
Joe Hendry has officially arrived at the top of NXT, and if his words are any indication, he plans on carrying that championship with serious pride. The question now becomes what kind of run he’ll have — and whether this is just the beginning of something even bigger inside WWE.
What do you think about Joe Hendry’s mindset as NXT Champion? Does this feel like the start of a defining reign, or is the real test still ahead? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.
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