One of the most popular NXT stars today is Joe Hendry, who made his name in TNA Wrestling before signing with WWE last month. Hendry might not be staying in developmental for long since he could be called up to the main roster soon.
According to WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select, Hendry is expected to be part of the SmackDown roster moving forward. He recently made his official main roster debut on the December 26 edition of SmackDown. He held a Christmas concert before getting confronted by The Miz.
“There have been internal discussions about Joe Hendry getting a main roster call-up, with Smackdown being his permanent home,” WrestleVotes wrote, via WhatCulture.
WrestleVotes also reported that USA Network’s top executives reportedly requested Hendry to be part of SmackDown. With the show going from two hours to three hours starting on January 2, 2026, the Scottish star will have plenty of airtime every Friday.
Hendry Wins His SmackDown Debut
After getting confronted by The Miz, Joe Hendry faced the former WWE Champion in a Miracle On 34th Street Fight. Hendry had some backup in the form of Akira Tozawa and Otis of Alpha Academy, as per WWE.com.
The infamous Bunny also made its return, with R-Truth under the costume this time around. Truth helped Hendry get the win over The Miz, who effortlessly put over the new talent in front of a jam-packed crowd at the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
It should be noted that the December 26 edition of SmackDown was taped the previous week. According to 411 Mania, the move allowed WWE stars to enjoy the holiday season with their families. They returned to action at the live holiday tour that started last Friday in Baltimore, Maryland.
The tour is set to end on January 5, 2026, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. It’s the first episode of RAW of the year and the first anniversary of the show on Netflix.
Hendry Began Appearing in WWE Last Year
Joe Hendry’s arrival on the WWE main roster was seen from a mile away last year, when he made his NXT debut as part of the company’s partnership with TNA Wrestling. Hendry wrestled several matches on NXT before making a surprise appearance at the 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble Match.
Hendry became the first active TNA World Champion to make an appearance on WWE television. He even had a confrontation with Roman Reigns, who was WWE’s biggest star of the past decade.
To take things to another level, Hendry also answered Randy Orton‘s open challenge at WrestleMania 41. He made history again, becoming the first active TNA Champion to perform at the Grandest Stage of Them All.
After his cameo at WrestleMania 41, Hendry continued to perform for TNA Wrestling and on NXT. He eventually made the move to WWE permanent in November, when he signed a contract, as reported by Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp.
SRS added that Hendry received a “main roster” kind of deal, comparable to Ricky Saints and Ethan Page.
With SmackDown adding another hour of airtime next year, more fans will get acquainted with Hendry. They just need to say his name, and he’ll surely appear.
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