Joe Hendry has recalled the chaotic and highly secretive circumstances surrounding his surprise appearance at WWE WrestleMania, including being smuggled into Allegiant Stadium while the event was already underway.
Speaking about the experience on The Rich Eisen Show, Hendry said the scale of the opportunity left little time to overthink what was happening. On the day itself, he juggled multiple commitments, moving between WrestleCon, WWE merchandise signings, and other appearances before finally heading to WrestleMania.
“I went from WrestleCon to go to where WWE had the merchandise set up and the signings. I did a signing with WWE, and then I arrived. So, that was two bookings done.”
Hendry explained that he arrived at the stadium in disguise, travelling in a car stuck in traffic as WrestleMania was taking place. He said he did not remove his disguise until he was taken into a small room backstage, where the reality of the moment finally set in.
“I’d been going for like 10 hours or something by that time, and then I got to WrestleMania in disguise in this car, and we’re in traffic as WrestleMania’s going on, and I’m like, ‘Man, this is intense.’ I didn’t take my disguise off until they took me to a little room, and one of the coolest moments ever was they said, ‘Here’s your WrestleMania shirt.’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god.’ It was a complete surprise.”
He added that he was only given his WrestleMania t-shirt in Gorilla Position, moments before heading out for his match with Randy Orton, calling it a surreal and memorable feeling.
Hendry also shared advice he received from Triple H just before his appearance. He said Triple H encouraged him to enjoy the moment, while assuring him that it would not be the last opportunity of its kind, words Hendry described as both reassuring and energising.
When Did Joe Hendry Join WWE?
Joe Hendry made his WWE debut in June 2024 on NXT while still under a TNA contract. It was reported that Hendry had officially signed with WWE on November 13, 2025, after being involved in numerous NXT and main roster events, including the 2025 Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 41, while still signed to TNA.
