Joe Hendry has explained why he made the decision to sign with WWE NXT, a deal that was confirmed just a few weeks ago. While still under contract with TNA Wrestling, Hendry had been appearing in NXT regularly for over a year, and was also part of the WWE Royal Rumble and WrestleMania 41.
However, it was recently confirmed that he’d officially departed TNA and signed a full-time deal with WWE. Appearing on the No-Contest Wrestlingshow, Hendry explained why he made that decision to be part of NXT.
“Right now I am obsessed with getting better at wrestling, and trying to be the absolute best professional wrestler that I can be.
“That is, for me, the primary reason why I chose to come to NXT, was to evolve as a wrestler. Because I really feel I can take this all the way, and the Performance Center has the tools for me to do that.
“I am obsessed with getting better, so I actually find it super hard to switch off from the wrestling business and relax.”
Explaining his decision to ‘evolve as a wrestler’, he continued: “One thing I love about the Performance Center is it keeps me on my toes every single day, because I’m just surrounded by world class athletes, world class talents.
“We’ll do a cardio test, and I’m like, I’m gonna have to go up against world class athletes, and I cannot put myself in a position… I’m not willing to show up and be embarrassed. I have to show up and compete with these world class athletes.
“And I think that’s what makes the experience of NXT so good for me, because it keeps me on my toes all the time.
“The learning that I get there. I’m working really closely with Terry Taylor right now to just become the best professional wrestler I can be. And I’m like, ‘Wait a second, so I get paid to go in and learn from the best coaches in the world?’ I remember having to pay all this money to do this.
“My job is to go in and get better at the craft that I love. I’m a pretty fortunate guy.”
Hendry last wrestled at NXT Gold Rush, where he teamed up with Thea Hail in a losing effort against Ethan Page and Chelsea Green for the AAA Mixed Tag Team Championship.
