Joe Hendry has officially signed with WWE and is earning a salary higher than the main roster minimum, sparking some controversy. In response to the criticism, Mark Henry has defended Hendry, emphasizing that salary discrepancies are understandable given individual circumstances. During an interview with Inside the Ring, Henry addressed concerns that Joe Hendry is making more than some established main roster talents despite being new to WWE. He pointed out that people often overlook how different each wrestler’s situation is and that favoritism and opportunities, akin to nepotism, exist in many industries.
Henry compared this to family businesses where skills and trades are passed down through generations, such as a butcher’s child becoming a butcher or an architect’s child following in their parent’s footsteps. He urged people to stop obsessing over others’ earnings, saying rules and preferences vary for everyone. Henry admitted he plays favorites, much like a parent would with their child, and views nepotism positively as a natural way of passing on success.
Moreover, Henry emphasized that those who work hard to reach the top do so with ambitions beyond just earning standard pay; companies often offer premium salaries to retain top talent and keep competitors at bay. He reassured that there’s enough money in the industry to go around. He also suggested that people who complain about others’ pay often do so out of jealousy or frustration over their own lack of success, a sentiment he personally doesn’t share.
This conversation follows a report from Sean Ross Sapp, who revealed that Joe Hendry’s pay exceeds the typical $350,000 main roster minimum. Sapp believes WWE considers Hendry a rising star in NXT and predicts he might become a recognizable name outside the WWE circle, alongside other emerging talents like Ricky Saints and Ethan Page.
The focus on Hendry’s salary is less about his tenure and more about the value he brings. WWE clearly sees potential in him, and as Henry noted, if the company doesn’t offer competitive pay, another organization likely will.
Fan Take: WWE’s willingness to invest heavily in Joe Hendry early signals a strategic move to build fresh stars that could reshape the future of the company. For fans, this could mean exciting new talent climbing the ranks quickly, which keeps the sport dynamic and unpredictable.
