“I Believe In Joe Hendry”: Who is Scottish wrestler Joe Hendry as he aims to Top UK Singles Chart?

Wrestling fans might be familiar with the notion of saying his name and then he appears, but Scottish pro-wrestling Joe Hendry might be appearing on the UK singles chart if his grassroots campaign continues.

The current TNA competitor, who for many Scottish wrestling fans will be remembered for his stints in ICW and his meme-worthy “diss tracks” against other wrestlers, recently launched a campaign for his earworm entrance theme, “I Believe In Joe Hendry,” to try and become the first professional wrestler to top the UK Singles Charts.

In a post on April 30 2024, Hendry continued to rally support as he revealed he was currently at the top of the iTunes Download Chart, though briefly overtaken by Hozier during the week, he made his return to the top only a few days ago. 

“Joe Hendry needs you. That’s because my song, that we filmed right here, on the daily Itunes chart has reached number one in the UK, number 11 in Ireland and 44 in the United States [...] we got to keep it going all week because if we do, a pro wrestler could be number one in the charts this week.”

“So folks, thank you so much for all the support. This is unbelievable, I love all you guys,” before listing off where you can download the song.

The grassroots “chart crashing” is very much akin to that when Rage Against The Machine were rallied to top the Christmas chart in 2009, in part a rebuke to what many considered the “automatic Christmas number 1” that X-Factor wins had a stranglehold on for four years prior.

Plus, Hendry sits in the middle of a unique Venn diagram where he can count on support from the wrestling community, those that are now experiencing “Taylor Swift fatigue” after the release of “The Tortured Poets Department,” and the great British chart tradition of a “novelty” song doing well. Though Hendry’s catchy song is by no means “Mr Blobby” in comparison, thankfully.

Though perhaps taking down the current reigning music heavyweight champion of the world Taylor Swift might be a big ask (sorry Joe, you might be doing the job for her and she’s going over everyone, brother), there is still hope to see “The Local Hero” in the UK chart this week.

According to Kworb, “I Believe In Joe Hendry” currently sits at number 25 on the World iTunes charts, while in the United Kingdom, he sits at number 3 on iTunes tops songs, overtaken once again by Hozier’s “Too Sweet” and Teddy Swims “Lose Control.”

Who is “The Local Hero” Joe Hendry?

Joe Hendry was born on May 1 1988 and has made a name for himself in the world of professional wrestling, particularly in promotions such as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), Insane Championship Wrestling, WhatCulture Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor. 

Hendry's career extends beyond professional wrestling; he has been a decorated amateur wrestler with notable achievements such as winning British Senior National Championships in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling. His international wrestling career includes representing Great Britain at the Commonwealth Wrestling Championship in 2017 and competing for Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

His career took him to various promotions across the UK and internationally, where he developed his unique style that combines technical skills with entertaining character work. His distinct entrance music, often parodies of popular songs tailored to mock his opponents, has been a signature element of his persona, earning him the nickname "Local Hero" early in his career.

His recent tenure with TNA has been marked by his reign as TNA Digital Media Champion, successful defences, and captivating rivalries. He won the championship on October 22, 2022, and held the title for 266 days.

When will we find out if “I Believe In Joe Hendry” has entered the UK singles chart?

The Top 40 chart will be issued on Friday May 3 2024 by BBC Radio 1 on The Official Chart show from 4pm to 5:45pm, before the full Official Singles Chart Top 100 is posted on the Official Charts Company's website.