• Update On Joe Hendry’s WWE NXT Salary
Former TNA World Champion Joe Hendry has officially signed with WWE and is part of the NXT brand.
According to Fightful Select, Hendry is reportedly coming in on a main-roster-level deal, earning above the usual minimum main roster salary, which indicates WWE views him as more than a standard NXT developmental signing.
The expectation is that his arrival could lead to movement within NXT, with names like Ricky Saints or Ethan Page potentially being called up. In that scenario, Hendry would slide into the next top spot on the brand as someone already familiar to fans.
There’s also a belief that Hendry won’t be limited strictly to NXT. Instead, he may appear across different shows when needed, similar to how certain unique personalities are used in various places rather than being tied to one roster full-time.
RELATED: WWE Unhappy With Gigi Dolin’s Recent Comments About NXT Salary
• Zack Ryder Sends A Message To Karrion Kross After Topping WWE Merch Sales
On last week’s episode of SmackDown, Zack Ryder returned to the WWE main roster after 5 years as LA Knight’s surprise opponent in John Cena’s Last Time Is Now tournament. Knight defeated Ryder to advance in the tournament.
Ryder posted the following about his new merch being a top seller on the WWE Shop:
“I don’t know how accurate the Top Sellers filter is on @wweshop, but it shows that the 3 new Zack Ryder shirts are the top selling shirts. (I won’t let it get to my head like @realkillerkross did)
Thank YOU for the support. It’s much appreciated. If you haven’t, please consider buying one of the new shirts.
WOO WOO WOO…YOU KNOW IT!”
In a backstage interview, Ryder said the following about his main roster comeback:
“Five years. It’s been five years since I put on Zack Ryder boots. Every single morning, the first thing I do, before I even open my damn eyes, is say, ‘How can I get back here? What do I have to do to get back here?’
I busted my a$$ for the past five years – Deathmatch King, Indy God, all for this moment. This might be a one time shot. I might get the call tomorrow. It doesn’t matter, because I’m Zack Ryder. I’m always ready, and I guess I can say this – woo, woo, woo. You know it.”
On this week’s RAW Recap podcast, Intercontinental Champion John Cena had the following to say about Ryder’s return:
“I was very, very glad to see Zack Ryder come back. Matt is a personal friend of mine, I can speak candidly like that, and I’ve seen his mind grow. You wanna talk about always being curious and the quest for growth, the Zack Ryder I knew from a long time ago has accrued so much sports entertainment wisdom.
I like rooting for people who are humble enough to admit when they’re wrong, and always want to grow, and are doing things for the greater good of the business.
Matt is certainly one of those guys, his wife Chelsea (Green) is one of those folks, who take an opportunity and get the absolute best out of it. I was really happy to see Zack Ryder back.”
