The 2025 Men’s Royal Rumble match featured the surprise (and very welcome) WWE main roster debut of Joe Hendry. The viral wrestling superstar made an appearance as the TNA World Champion in the 30-man match, entering at No. 15.
Joe Hendry’s WWE main roster debut plans
Hendry debuted to a thunderous ovation from the WWE Universe, proving just how over he was. With WWE and TNA having a partnership, some fans expected him to have a stint with the on Raw and SmackDown as well. As per latest reports, seems like the fans may have been right.
Per Fightful, Hendry was set to debut on WWE RAW after his appearance in the Men’s Royal Rumble match. The plans for him involved feuding with a superstar he tussled with in the match itself – The Miz. At the Rumble, the singing superstar got the better of The A-Lister in their exchange, and plans were made to build from there.
🚨| Per Fightful, Joe Hendry was originally scheduled to appear on WWE RAW earlier this year to kick off a feud with The Miz, but the idea was reportedly shut down by a member of the creative team, as Hendry would’ve been booked to lose in his debut match.
MISSED OPPORTUNITY 🥲 pic.twitter.com/ZjURigsdsc
— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) April 14, 2025
However, everything was reportedly scrapped because of a TNA executive not approving of the idea. According to the executive, it wouldn’t have been a good look for Joe Hendry and the company had he lost to The Miz while holding the TNA World Title.
The decision from the TNA executive made perfect sense. Yes, Hendry as a TNA wrestler, has lost in NXT, but he wasn’t the World Champion. A World Championship for any promotion is the biggest prize, and the champion is their biggest asset. Although a veteran, losing to The Miz isn’t the same as losing to Roman Reigns, and that’s likely what TNA thought.
Joe Hendry’s Royal Rumble performance
Someone said his name at the Royal Rumble, and he appeared! Joe Hendry arrived to much fanfare, his work over the past year in NXT and TNA being celebrated by the WWE Universe. The pop that accompanied his entrance music was sensational.
The TNA superstar wasted little time making an impression, battling with the likes of the aforementioned The Miz, Penta, and Jimmy Uso. He drew the approval of Sheamus, who was enjoying watching him tear it up at the Royal Rumble.
After Hendry’s entrance, Roman Reigns entered at No. 16. It was a seismic shift in the mood of the Rumble as the OTC made his way into the ring. He was all about business on the night, quickly eliminating The Miz and Sheamus from the match.
Hendry then squared off against The Tribal Chief and landed a single shot. As he looked to attack Reigns further, the latter blasted him with a massive spear and dumped him over the top rope. It was a solid cameo, and we wait to see more for his eventual return to WWE.