Joe Hendry is back in the WWE picture. After disappearing from television to work on a project outside the ring, Hendry returned during the tapings for the August 31, 2026 episode of WWE RAW.
Hendry surfaced during Je’Von Evans’ match against Dominik Mysterio. The singles bout ended in a disqualification before being restarted as a tag team match featuring Hendry and Evans against Dominik and JD McDonagh.
The return didn’t end with Hendry’s hand raised. Judgment Day won the restarted match after Dominik pinned Hendry, giving the former World Heavyweight Champion a rough first night back.
Hendry’s recent absence was connected to WWE’s new partnership with ReelShort. He has been filming a role in the first live-action microdrama produced through the deal, which is built around short scripted episodes made for mobile viewing.
Before stepping away, Hendry appeared in a segment with Danhausen, Dominik, McDonagh and boxer Ryan Garcia. His surprise involvement at the RAW tapings now puts him right back into the mix with Judgment Day.
The episode was taped in advance and will air this Monday, August 31. Hendry may have taken the loss, but his return confirms that WWE hasn’t forgotten about him while he’s been working away from the ring.
What do you think about Joe Hendry returning during the WWE RAW tapings and immediately getting pulled into a fight with Judgment Day? Leave your feedback and let us know in the comments.
