Joe Hendry discusses why he signed with ROH, the upcoming Honor United tour & more (Exclusive)

Photo credits: RING OF HONOR/Ian Storck
Photo credits: RING OF HONOR/Ian Storck
This should be an instant classic!
This should be an instant classic!

One of the biggest misconceptions about ROH I think is that it's a purely straight wrestling, all in-ring action, but - while bringing the legitimacy that you do as both an experienced amateur wrestler and someone who's faced Kurt Angle in the squared circle - you've also seemingly brought your vast musical and comedic talent to ROH, which makes you the whole package.

Is this something you think more people need to be more aware of ROH offering, and can you be the benchmark for them and bring more eyes to the product?

Put it this way, I see everything that I do, I create new challenges. When I reach a new goal, I create new goals.

I'm kind of old school in the sense that I'm one of these people that believes, if you're not trying to be the top talent in that company, you just need to get the hell out of it. I know a lot of people nowadays will find that offensive but, make no mistake about it, I'm here to be the World Champion, I'm here to be the top talent in the company and this is a journey, my journey into making that happen.

When I first come into companies, you see it all the time, everywhere I've wrestled, I've always started at the bottom, and scratched and clawed my way to the top. I've got this thing that I feel is rare in this business which is a desire to be at the absolute top, and I plan to work my way to the top of Ring of Honor.

But to carry on from what you're saying - listen, to all my opponents there are, just because I am more entertaining than you doesn't mean I can't bounce you off the canvas as well.

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Like you said, The Prestigious One is the total package in professional wrestling, however, Ring of Honor I think has THE most underrated roster in the world.

You look at some of the talents we've got. You look at, for example, the team of Jay Lethal and Jonathan Gresham. You should have seen the match that Jonathan Gresham and Alex Shelley just had that the paper view. It was unbelievable.

Again, I'm looking at all the dream matches. I'm getting to face someone like Matt Taven who's been at the absolute top of the company. I'm going to find out what that's going to be like. Shane Taylor as well, World Television Champion. His strikes are... He hits harder than anybody else. I've felt his strikes before.

Me and him went the distance, to a 15-minute draw. That's why I have this title shot. I'm one of the few people he's not been able to beat so we'll finish that story in London. I recommend you come out there.

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We've got someone on the roster called Josh Woods right now who is just an unbelievable national champion amateur wrestler who just wrestles differently from other people. We've got a fellow Briton Mark Haskins as well, who brings an intensity that you've never really seen before in someone of his size. He is a phenomenal athlete and one of the best wrestlers that Britain has produced.

Also, look at Villain Enterprises, you look at how over, for example, the team is but also even look at the ascension that PCO is making as well. We've got a phenomenal women's division that is continually growing.

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The company, I think, is going to go from strength to strength over the next few years and I'm excited that I've joined at this time so we can continue to see the progression it's making.

The talent is there, the roster is absolutely unbelievable and you shouldn't pay attention to the Internet as well because I will tell you now, the crowds are growing, they are getting bigger and, every time I go over there, I'm seeing more passion, more intensity from the fans and I think that there's a momentum here.

Ring of Honor's going to go from strength to strength for the next few years. There's a reason I chose to be in this company.


NEXT: Joe Hendry reflects on his time in ICW and WCPW

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