Joe Hendry has opened up about his failed attempt to secure a dream match with John Cena during the early stages of Cena’s retirement run, explaining that while he pushed for it, he was careful not to overstep professional boundaries.
Joe Hendry, who was the TNA World Champion at the time, had made no secret of his desire to face the 17-time World Champion before John Cena stepped away from the ring. The match never materialised, but Hendry says that was not for a lack of effort.
Speaking on Busted Open After Dark, Hendry detailed why the bout ultimately did not happen, stressing the importance of respecting the unwritten rules of the business.
“I tried. I tried to make the match with John Cena happen,” Hendry said. “It’s a tough game to play because you have to be bold, but within guidelines that you must respect. What you don’t want to do in this business is go into business for yourself.”
Hendry referenced his much-discussed promotional stunt in Glasgow, where he placed a billboard near a WWE event in an effort to drum up interest in the potential match. He said the move was designed to be eye-catching without crossing any lines.
“I put my face up on a billboard next to a WWE show when they were in Glasgow,” he explained. “That, to me, was something that was fun and didn’t interfere with business. I felt I gave everything that I could that was respectful.”
Ultimately, Hendry said he made a conscious decision not to divert attention away from Cena’s farewell, recognising the significance of the moment.
“I didn’t want to make it about me, because it’s John Cena’s retirement tour,” Hendry added. “I was very honoured to be a part of that last show.”
While the match remains firmly in the realm of ‘what could have been’, Hendry’s comments underline just how close he came, and how carefully he chose to balance ambition with respect for one of wrestling’s biggest stars.
Joe Hendry’s Meteoric Rise In WWE NXT
Joe Hendry has enjoyed a great level of success in WWE NXT, despite his relatively short tenure with the company. Hendry began competing on NXT sporadically while he was still signed to TNA Wrestling, making his debut in the developmental brand on the 18 June, 2024, episode where he competed in a 25-man Battle Royal to determine a new number one contender for the NXT Title.
Now, just one year and seven months after his NXT debut, on the February 3 episode, Joe Hendry captured the NXT Championship by winning a seven-man Ladder match for the vacant title.
