Next-Gen WWE Star Jacob Henry Backstage at SmackDown, Meets Randy Orton

One big thing: Mark Henry’s son signs with WWE

Jacob Henry, son of WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, has signed a WWE NIL (Next In Line) deal and was spotted backstage at SmackDown.

• Henry shared a photo with Randy Orton, captioning it “Generational 👑🫱🏿‍🫲🏻”
• The signing was announced during SummerSlam weekend
• Henry will be paid by WWE while attending college

Why it matters

This signing represents WWE’s continued investment in second-generation talent and their commitment to nurturing future stars through the NIL program.

By the numbers

• Jacob Henry will be part of the University of Oklahoma wrestling team
• He plans to try out for the football team in Spring
• Mark Henry was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2018

Behind the scenes

• Jacob and Mark Henry made a cameo appearance on WWE Raw in Austin, Texas
• The NIL program allows WWE to develop relationships with college athletes
• Randy Orton, who met with Jacob, is also a third-generation wrestler

The big picture

WWE’s strategy of signing and developing second and third-generation talent has proven successful in the past, with stars like Randy Orton, The Rock, and Charlotte Flair following in their family’s footsteps.

What to watch

• How Jacob Henry balances his college athletics with WWE commitments
• Potential future appearances of Jacob on WWE programming
• Development of other NIL signees and their progression in WWE

As WWE continues to invest in young talent, do you think second-generation wrestlers have an advantage in the industry? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.