Joey Hendry Talks First WWE Microdrama ‘Agent of Shadows’ & Top Guy Aspirations

Scott FishmanThu, October 22, 2026 at 12:26 PM UTC

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Joe Hendry - DES MOINES, IOWA - AUGUST 3: Joe Hendry looks on during Monday Night RAW at Casey's Center on August 3, 2026 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin Sebatis/WWE via Getty Images)

Say his name, and he appears. Joe Hendry not only can be found Mondays on WWE Raw via Netflix, but in the company’s first ever microdrama Agent of Shadows. The short-form vertical series premieres October 23 under the ReelShort platform.

At the center of the story is secret agent Adam Hawke, portrayed by microdrama regular Chase Mattson. Adam goes undercover as a nanny to protect his estranged daughter from a criminal syndicate. Former WWE Champion Drew McIntyre plays Roscoe, his right-hand man and tech expert. Hendry is among the cavalcade of pro wrestling superstars and legends featured including Jacob Fatu, Nikkita Lyons, Michael Hayes, and Booker T.

For Hendry, this is another opportunity that has come within a whirlwind year. The viral performer caught fire in TNA Wrestling before securing an official WWE contract. He quickly ascended up the ranks from NXT, looking to reach new heights. We caught up with the Scottish entertainer to talk about what he has been up to and where the entertainer sees himself going.

Joe Hendry and Drew McIntyre (Courtesy of WWE)

Micro-dramas have really exploded in popularity. What were your first thoughts about WWE collaborating with ReelShort for Agent of Shadows? Joe Hendry: I had never heard of microdramas before, but I think that the concept is smart. Throughout the history of media, the way people consume content has always depended on storytelling. I think that WWE has often been at the forefront of how that’s done. If you look at the first WrestleMania, for example, the distribution for that, and then the emergence of the WWE Network. WWE has made some real innovations in media. And so to see them cross over into micro-dramas and this format early to me is exciting. It makes a lot of sense to me. When I arrive at an airport, and I see everyone scrolling on their phones, this looks like a useful way for people to consume our storytelling in a way that is convenient and is digestible for them, and keeps them engaged.

So how would you describe your character in this?

Well, I have the best character. I had to really challenge myself to embrace this role. I, Joe Hendry, play Joe Hendry, the greatest character in all of media. So, yeah, I had fun with it. It looks like a crazy time on set with such a hodgepodge of WWE superstars and legends involved. Take me through what that was like. I’m excited to see Michael Hayes in it because he is a super charismatic person, so it’s cool to see him there. He’s so involved in our shows, it’s cool to see him on this side of the camera again. So I’m excited. That’s the role I’m probably most excited to see as a viewer. But, it was cool to be on set with Drew. Someone from Scotland who I look up to, who I’ve worked with a lot over the years before I came to WWE. Now to see him and what he’s doing and all that, you know, the high-level movie projects that he’s involved with, it’s cool to be on the same screen as him

Have you caught the acting bug?

For me, I’ve had a few focuses in my professional life. I am passionate about all things business. That was my degree. That’s what I went to university for, and I’ve owned businesses in the past, and still do. So, I’m excited by that, but my loves are professional wrestling first, and music second. I love the opportunity to explore new avenues with WWE, but right now, my goal is to be the best professional wrestler that I can be. Yes, I have fun with music, but professional wrestling is number one. I will do movie and TV projects for WWE, and things that help me build my brand as Joe Hendry as the wrestler. Right now, I’m very focused on just being the best professional wrestler that I can be. So, I do not have desires to go into acting right now. Never say never, but right now, I’m focused on wrestling.

I just watched Street Fighter, and there were some fun social media posts about you playing Joe in the movie. Like that could have been Joe on the big screen!

I did see some tweets like that, but the thing is Cody [Rhodes] and Roman [Reigns] as two examples who have conquered the world of professional wrestling. They’re so skilled at all things professional wrestling that they are now able to explore these avenues. I’m still building those skills. So I’m very excited to be part of this micro-drama, and that is allowing me to kind of build those skills. But yeah, those guys are on another level, and never say never, but like who knows.

What does Joe Hendry binge watch or enjoy watching these days?

Good question, Well, wrestling aside, let’s say I enjoy the work of Guy Ritchie. He has The Gentlemen, both the movie and series on Netflix right now. I’m a huge fan of the movie and haven’t caught the series. That’s one I will be checking out.

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Agent of Shadows (Courtesy of WWE)

You’ve been on tour with WWE and recently got to go to Hawaii. These live events are always fun for fans, but also a time for you to enjoy yourself. Maybe even get to know those on the roster on a deeper level. How has it been to become part of that Raw locker room over the past few months?

It has been amazing. I’ve been really lucky as I’ve been a part of some amazing locker rooms. There’s so many people in the locker room who will look out for new people who are coming in, it’s a welcoming environment. I don’t want to miss anybody out before, but I I’ve spoken about how Penta has gone out of his way to help me, having guys like the Usos in the locker room, and LA Knight, those guys who are willing to pass on knowledge and advice. The last couple of weeks I’ve been talking to Chad Gable and LA Knight about all things physique to try and kind of pick their brain a little bit on how I can get better. And as much as I can’t stand him, you only get better wrestling a guy like JD McDonagh, you know? He needs to be made fun of at all times, but he is a fantastic professional wrestler. It pains me to say it, but working with him, you’re only going to learn.

People forget how much has actually happened for me this year. Q1 and Q2 of this year, I was NXT Champion, you know? People forget that. I moved up to Raw. I did the “Fire Logan Paul “song, which went really viral. We’ve released the album. I got the chance to do the South America tour, where we went to Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Argentina, and then we finished the tour in Mexico. I’ve just gone to Hawaii as well. You’re getting to travel the world, and see things you might not otherwise see. So to me, these live tours, especially international ones, are just an amazing opportunity to see the world, to learn, connect with the audience, connect with your colleagues. There  were just moments where you’re like, professionally, it just doesn’t really get better than this right now, you know? We were in Hawaii! You’ve been in the business a good amount of time, but being a part of WWE and just the level of fame that comes with it is a little bit different. How is it for you to manage personal relationships and career in the last year? I’m sure having a partner [TNA’s Gia Miller] who understands the business and is in the business helps.

WWE is as big as it gets. When you’re pursuing your dream and if you’re going to take it to this level, you are going to have to make sacrifices. A lot of us do. I left Scotland and moved over to America. A lot of people won’t know this, but I only moved to America in August. I’ve lived in Scotland my entire life until last August. So, I’ve lived in America or I’ve been based in America for just over a year now, despite working here ever since 2019. Your family is scattered across the world, you make sacrifices, but we make those sacrifices because it’s worth it, because we are in the pursuit of our dream. And the ability to pursue your dream, especially me pursuing the dream of WWE, it’s something that you have to go for with all your heart. I’m very lucky that the people in my life are very understanding of that and they have my back one hundred percent. So, the people in my life, I’m lucky to have them.

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Do you have any dream collaboration when it comes to music you want to put out there?

Yeah, 100 percent. Weezer’s my favorite band. On Monday, I saw Rick Rubin, and we waved to each other, but I unfortunately didn’t get the chance to chat with him. I’m reading his book right now. He’s a top five person that I’d love to have a conversation with. I’ve wrestled Kurt Angle. I have trained with Dorian Yates. I have had the chance to work with some of the best to ever live in their chosen pursuit, and Rick Rubin’s the greatest producer of all time. That’s just a crazy thing to say, that the greatest at what they do is here, now, still doing that thing. For me, it’s Rick Rubin. Weezer’s my favorite band, but Rick Rubin’s probably number one to be honest.

You’re known as a fan-favorite and produce fun entertainment moments. Is there a point where you kind of want to go to a darker side, or kind of just kind of roll with what we’re seeing right now?

When I was putting together who Joe Hendry is, and I made the music video and all that, it was with the intention that he would be universally hated. The opposite happened. So, you know, the audience dictated what happened there, and I think they will continue to dictate that.

As we’re heading into the next year, what are your kind of hopes for your career? I’m just always looking to get better at what I do. I know in my heart that I can be a top draw for WWE. I know people have things to say about that, but the truth is I know that I can be a top guy, I know that I can be an asset to the professional wrestling business because I have the metrics to prove it. And those are facts, you know? I had the most viewed clip in all of wrestling in 2024.  I wrestled Randy Orton at WrestleMania, which did insane numbers on social media. My WrestleMania shirt was a bestseller. I won the NXT Championship. I have the metrics to prove that I can draw in the professional wrestling business, and my goal is to be somebody who can deliver for the company. I saw in an interview that [WWE President] Nick Khan was asked what WWE is looking for from talent. It is someone that can move the needle for the company immediately or in the near future. I believe that I’m somebody who can do that. I’ve had metrics in the past to prove that I think I can be a top guy for WWE. So I’m looking to acquire the skills to do that as quickly as I can.

WWE Raw, Mondays, 8/7c, Netflix Agent of Shadows premiere, October 23, ReelShort & Social Media

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”