Major update on Joe Hendry's WWE status

Joe Hendry has taken the WWE Universe by storm. Thanks to the forbidden door opened up with TNA, the Scottish grappler has made a name for himself on the NXT brand. New details are being revealed on Hendry's status with the largest pro wrestling company in the world.

The Global Hero spent less than 1 year with TNA beginning in May 2018 but returned in September 2022. After World Wrestling Entertainment and Total Nonstop Action began working together this year, fans immediately called on officials to book the longest-reigning Digital Media Champion. Hendry's social media antics fueled the buzz, and now he's worked 3 NXT matches - the June 18 Battle Royal, defeating Ethan Page and Shawn Spears with Trick Williams on July 9, losing to Gallus at a July 26 live event with Shiloh Hill and Je'Von Evans.

Hendry's concert was the special attraction at Tuesday's Great American Bash but the star was attacked by Gallus during the performance. The 11-year veteran will make his singles debut next week on NXT but before that, he provided a major WWE status update: He's now training full-time at the Performance Center, despite his TNA contract, which has "a while" left on it.

The Prestigious One has a big supporter in NXT boss Shawn Michaels, who is also WWE's Senior Vice President of Talent Development Creative. Hendry just spoke with The Wrestling Matt, and thanked the companies after touting his "unprecedented" agreement with WWE and TNA.

"TNA Wrestling has worked it out with WWE... I can appear as a TNA contracted talent, I can appear on NXT, I can train at the Performance Center full-time, and do indies and do signings. This is unprecedented, has never been done before in the business. So, thank you to TNA and WWE for figuring it out," Joe Hendry said. [3:21 - 3:44]

Hendry revealed that he needed a week to sort "real life" things at home in the UK, but now he's in Orlando full-time. He also disclosed reasons for training at WWE's state-of-the-art facility.

"My viewpoint is you can only do your best with the knowledge you have at the time. So, I just prepare, prepare, prepare. I have no ego when it comes to getting better, that’s why I’m training at the PC. I feel like I’m never just going to rest on the skills I’ve got, I’m always going build to something more," Joe Hendry said. [4:36 - 4:58]

Hendry has participated in PC promo classes and worked with Terry Taylor, who once led the PC finishing class with Michaels. He has trained with former NXT/AEW and current TNA coach Ace Steel, in addition to Natalya and Tyson Kidd at their Dungeon 2.0.

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WWE NXT Great American Bash lineup for Week 2

World Wrestling Entertainment will present week 2 of The Great American Bash next Tuesday. Week 1 aired as this week's NXT, live from the Performance Center in Orlando.

Officials have announced 5 matches for next week as Ethan Page's Era rolls on. Below is the lineup:

• Joe Hendry vs. Joe Coffey
• Pete Dunne vs. Trick Williams
• Women's North American Champion Kelani Jordan defends vs. Tatum Paxley
• Tag Team Champions Axiom and Nathan Frazer defend vs. Wes Lee and Zachary Wentz
• NXT Champion Ethan Page defends vs. Oro Mensah

Next week's NXT will air on Syfy Network due to USA Network's Olympics coverage. NXT will return to the USA Network on August 16.