A Scottish wrestler’s viral tune is challenging pop sensation Taylor Swift for the UK number one spot – and he has the support of Swifties.
I Believe in Joe Hendry by the Edinburgh-born grappler has taken the internet by storm after the 36-year-old posted his music video on social media.
In a matter of days, Hendry, who performs for US-based professional wrestling company Total Nonstop Action (TNA), shot up the UK iTunes chart to number one.
Hendry is aiming to make history by becoming the first wrestler to reach number one in UK chart history, but faces competition from Swift’s song Fortnight featuring Post Malone.
He told STV News: “I don’t think I’ve ever faced anyone as big as Taylor Swift – I do not underestimate the power of the Swifties.
“I have to say I have treated pretty well by the Swiftie community. They seem to be supportive.
“Taylor’s on top, she can have a week off. She deserves a holiday.
“They seem to be behind that and taking it in good fun.”
Watch
‘I Believe in Joe Hendry’
The video for Hendry’s song was filmed on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and shows the grappler playing an electric guitar.
I Believe in Joe Hendry isn’t the Scot’s first musical number with Hendry, who previously worked for Insane Championship Wrestling (ICW) in Glasgow, regularly producing covers of hit songs in a satirical way.
Hendry said on X on Thursday that sales data for the song showed it was “way ahead on actual sales” and that potential streams were hitting approximately 80,000 streams per day.
He said: “The last few weeks have been mad, every day it has just snowballed more and more.
“It started when there was some buzz on TikTok, people making videos about me – they were getting half a million hits.
“I thought, I should probably release this song.
“The fans really got behind it after it went to number 20 in the UK iTunes chart and it got to number one.
“It was number one in Malta, number two in Ireland and it got to number six in the US on the same week Taylor Swift released an album.
“I would be delighted to appear in the top 40. How high? I have no idea. But it has been an absolute blast.”
The UK top 40 chart rankings for this week will be announced at around 5.45pm on Friday.
Who is Joe Hendry?
The wrestler born in Edinburgh started his career inside the squared circle over a decade ago and has worked with independent companies in the US such as Ring of Honor and TNA.
His rise to fame came during a six-year stint with ICW in Scotland in which he made musical-themed entrances to songs such as Miley Cyrus’ Wrecking Ball and Phil Collins hit In the Air Tonight.
The wrestler has gone by many monikers in his career including ‘The Prestigious One’ and ‘Local Hero’ and is the longest-reigning Impact Wrestling Digital Media Champion in the company’s history.
Hendry also competed in amateur wrestling aged 26, winning the British Senior National Championship in freestyle wrestling in 2017.
He went on to represent Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 in Australia, and won the British Senior National Championship in Greco-Roman wrestling in the same year.
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