It was the perfect Saturday night at the Rogers Center between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers. There was tension, drama, and a hero rising when it counted the most. Basically, there were all the ingredients to make it a classic, thrilling game. And to top that, there was a crossover straight from WWE that nobody expected.
With the score tied in the bottom of the eighth inning, the game’s deciding moment arrived. A hero in white and blue stepped up to the plate. And suddenly, a sound from the bat came, and no one expected his strong swing to change the whole game. But that’s the beauty of baseball – one swing, one pitch, and one catch can change the entire game. And for the Blue Jays, it was that one swing that turned the game in their favor.
But do you know what followed? A viral link to a flashy wrestling legend, generating a social media frenzy that echoed well outside the field.
The Blue Jays’ solid catcher wrote that narrative with his swing. Alejandro Kirk‘s timely RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning tied the game at 1-1 and set up a spectacular 2-1 walk-off win against the Tigers.
But beyond the diamond and Kirk’s performance, it was an off-field moment that touched hearts. Always in sync with pop culture, the Blue Jays’ social media crew playfully compared Kirk to professional wrestler Joe Hendry. On their X handle, they uploaded Kirk’s video with a caption, “SAY HIS NAME AND HE APPEARS.“ Fans quickly identified the crossover as the similarity, both in size and appeal, was terrific.
SAY HIS NAME AND HE APPEARS pic.twitter.com/ut8nYvQQed
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) May 17, 2025
To give you a little context, in case you’re unversed, this caption by the Blue Jays is the intro of Hendry’s theme song and is also his tagline! Well, fans were quick to catch it, no?
Joe Hendry is a Scottish professional wrestler and singer known for being charismatic and coming up with new ways to make sports entertainment fun. Hendry has made a lot of progress in his career and is now signed with TNA. He holds the TNA World Championship.
Seeing this, tbh, Kirk’s performance deserved the attention. The game seemed like a testament to his ability to rise to the occasion. He has sharpened this talent all season long with a .275 batting average and a .914 OPS in 51 at-bats.
Moreover, it was not only Kirk but the whole team that performed amazingly well. Starting pitcher Eric Lauer allowed one run in three innings in his season debut. Yariel Rodriguez, Yimi Garcia, and Jeff Hoffman halted the Tigers’ charge with six shutout innings. Toronto won after Daulton Varsho’s ninth-inning double set up Ernie Clement’s walk-off RBI single.
The defense made crucial plays to keep the game close. A hard-fought win from the pitching staff and position players, the Blue Jays proved their depth and toughness.
And talking about Hendry, fans adore his personality, and when the comparison was drawn, they didn’t hold back on being playful in the comment section.
Fan reactions: A fusion of baseball and wrestling
The Blue Jays won, but the real fun started in the comments, where the unanticipated hero of the evening was amusingly yet endearingly contrasted with a professional wrestling star. The reference was so good that even the man himself, Joe Hendry, couldn’t stop himself from praising it. His appreciation of “” made it evident why he is the fan favorite!
— Joe Hendry (@joehendry) May 17, 2025
We have witnessed the cultural crossover of MLB and WWE numerous times, but this time it was different. It was made with the star who has yet to sign a full-time contract with WWE. So, when this happened, his fans were quite happy too, “@joehendry getting the recognition he deserves. Soon it will be a full-time @WWE contract.” Getting noticed in MLB and knowing fans love you is a big-time thing.
@joehendry getting the recognition he deserves. Soon it will be a full time @WWE contract
— ColombianCoffeeDFS (@ColombianDFS) May 17, 2025
A humorous crossover came with a surprise and then confusion. “Genuinely thought Joe Hendry made a special appearance .” When you post with the WWE star’s tagline, the confusion is understandable. Plus, it also depicts how popular Joe Hendry is that even MLB fans could recognize the comparison instantly. Think about the impact he’s leaving across sports!
Did you know Hendry is a musician too? Well, one fan commented with the same song that the Blue Jays quoted. Keeping the song the same, “I Believe In Joe Hendry,” the fan just made an apt portrayal of the crossover. It felt like a kudos to the Blue Jays’ social media team’s creativity, and who can beat them? Their competition was fans! It was an appreciation of both the stars.
— Daniel Hutcheson (@DanielHutch7399) May 17, 2025
Echoing with the song, a comment read, “I Believe In Alejandro Kirk #LightsUpLetsGo.” It won’t be wrong to say everyone believes in Kirk’s hitting ability. This version highlights the mobility of fan culture, in which chants and slogans cross leagues, unifying different fan bases under the common banner of passion.
The melding of Alejandro Kirk’s clutch performance and the lighthearted yet appreciative reference to Joe Hendry shows the dynamic interaction of sports and entertainment. And as the season progresses, we cannot wait to see more such spectacular crossovers…
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