Joe Hendry Reveals How Shawn Michaels Helped Shape His NXT Story

Joe Hendry had his career-defining moment at TNA Genesis, finally finishing his story by defeating Nic Nemeth to become TNA World Champion for the first time. But before that, his journey saw him step into WWE NXT, creating one of the most viral moments in wrestling history and catching the attention of Shawn Michaels himself.

Hendry’s NXT debut was one of the biggest social media clips of the year, racking up millions of views and ranking among WWE’s most-watched YouTube videos. Though his stint with the brand ended in a losing effort against Ethan Page at NXT No Mercy, he made a lasting impression—especially on The Heartbreak Kid.

Speaking on The Takedown with SI, Hendry revealed that his time in Orlando led to a breakthrough moment with Michaels, someone he had idolized growing up.

“A moment that was very special to me was, there was one day where, you know, because I was training at the Performance Center full-time, I was walking past and I just thought, ‘you know what?’ I checked on the door and asked Shawn if I could come in, and we started talking,” Hendry said.

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Despite being one of the busiest men in WWE, Michaels took the time to sit down with Hendry, and that conversation changed everything.

“Shawn’s running a major TV show. He’s a busy guy. But we sat down for an hour and we talked, and he asked about my life, and we got to know each other. And he says, ‘you know what? Now I get it.’ He’s like, ‘yes.'”

Michaels wanted to fully understand Hendry’s backstory, ensuring that if he was going to be featured on NXT TV, it would be done the right way.

“This is where Shawn really helped me put the pieces together,” Hendry explained. “So he says, ‘we know about the song and the spinning around and the meme and all that. We know that. But you know what? This is the story that we’re going to tell.’

“He said, ‘I didn’t know that you’ve been doing this for 11, 12 years. I didn’t know about all the ups and downs and all of the challenges that you’ve had to overcome’. He’s like, ‘Now I get it. That’s the story that we’re going to tell.'”

That kind of insight helped Hendry grow as a performer, even in a short time.

“So Shawn really taught me to embrace that side of things, which again, speaks to talents when they are able to authentically be themselves. And I’m absolutely thrilled about the partnership. And, you know, I would relish the opportunity to work with Shawn Michaels again.”

Hendry ended his reflection by emphasizing how much the opportunity meant to him, especially as a representative of TNA in WWE NXT.

“I can, hand on heart, say that I gave my very best when it came to representing TNA in NXT. I gave my absolute best. I gave everything I had.”

With Joe Hendry now holding TNA’s top prize, his journey from viral sensation to world champion is nothing short of incredible. From spinning memes to life-changing meetings with Shawn Michaels, he’s proving that hard work—and a little bit of star power—can take you anywhere. Could we see another WWE crossover in his future? With TNA and NXT working together, anything is possible. Stay tuned, because Hendry’s story is far from over!

With Hendry now leading TNA as World Champion, will another crossover with WWE NXT be in his future? Could he find himself back under Shawn Michaels’ guidance down the road? Drop your thoughts in the comments!