Hank Walker Bio
Joseph Sculthorpe (born June 11, 1998) is an American professional wrestler and former football player. He performs under the ring name Hank Walker in WWE, where he is signed to the NXT brand. He is best known as one half of the tag team Hank and Tank alongside Tank Ledger, with whom he captured the NXT Tag Team Championship. Before entering professional wrestling, Sculthorpe played college football and had a brief stint with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL).
Early Life and Background
Joseph Sculthorpe was born on June 11, 1998, in Hampstead, North Carolina, in the United States. He grew up in the coastal region of southeastern North Carolina, where football is a central part of local sports culture. Sculthorpe attended Topsail High School in Hampstead, where he developed into a promising offensive lineman. His size and athleticism at the high school level drew attention from college programs across the region.
After graduating from Topsail High School, Sculthorpe enrolled at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. He redshirted his first year with the NC State Wolfpack, which allowed him to train and develop without burning a season of college eligibility. His path through the Wolfpack program shaped his work ethic and prepared him for the physical demands of both football and, later, professional wrestling. He completed his studies and graduated from NC State in May 2020 with a degree in sociology.
Path to Professional Wrestling
Sculthorpe’s first taste of big-time competition came on the football field. He played for the NC State Wolfpack from 2016 through 2020, suiting up for four active seasons plus his redshirt year. During his time in the program, he was part of postseason teams that won the Independence Bowl in 2016 and the Sun Bowl in 2017. He also reached the Gator Bowl final in 2018 and again in 2021, though his team came up short in both appearances.
Following his college career, Sculthorpe entered the 2021 NFL Draft but went undrafted. He signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an offensive guard on May 14, 2021, beginning a short professional football journey. His time with the Falcons was turbulent, as he was waived, signed to the practice squad, released, and signed again multiple times between August and November 2021. After his final release in November 2021, Sculthorpe stepped away from football and began exploring a new athletic path. On March 17, 2022, he signed a developmental contract with WWE and was assigned to the WWE Performance Center, officially launching his wrestling career.
Hank Walker Career
Early Career (2022)
Sculthorpe made his professional wrestling debut in 2022 under the ring name Hank Walker. He made his in-ring debut at an NXT live event on June 11, 2022, losing to Von Wagner. A few weeks later, Walker made his on-screen television debut on the July 1 episode of NXT Level Up, where he again came up short, this time against Channing Stacks Lorenzo. These early losses were part of his developmental journey, as he adjusted to the timing and physical style of professional wrestling.
In his first year, Walker aligned himself with veteran Drew Gulak, who took on a mentor role. The pairing gave Walker a steady on-screen presence and a chance to learn from a seasoned grappler. That relationship came to a dramatic end on the February 14, 2023 episode of NXT, when Gulak turned on Walker and aligned with Charlie Dempsey, leaving Walker to forge his own path.
NXT Breakthrough (2023-2024)
Following his split from Gulak, Walker began teaming with fellow NXT performer Tank Ledger in March 2023. The duo adopted the team name Hank and Tank and quickly became a popular act on the brand. Their combination of size, power, and personality helped them stand out in the NXT tag team division. Outside of WWE, the pair also competed on the independent circuit, winning the Reality of Wrestling (ROW) Tag Team Championship on December 14, 2024.
Hank and Tank held the ROW Tag Team Championship for 84 days before losing the titles on March 8, 2025. Their momentum carried directly into WWE, where they won a tag team gauntlet match on the April 15 episode of NXT to become the number one contenders for the NXT Tag Team Championship. At NXT Stand and Deliver, Hank and Tank defeated Fraxiom, the team of Nathan Frazer and Axiom, to capture the NXT Tag Team Championship, marking the biggest win of Walker’s wrestling career.
Style and Strengths
Standing around 6 feet 3 inches tall, Walker uses his background as a collegiate offensive lineman to dominate opponents with raw power and physicality. His football-honed conditioning allows him to maintain a high pace in longer matches, while his experience in team settings makes him a natural tag team competitor. Walker’s combination of strength, durability, and willingness to learn has made him a reliable partner for Tank Ledger and a rising presence in the NXT tag team ranks.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Walker’s career came at NXT Stand and Deliver, where he and Tank Ledger won the NXT Tag Team Championship from Fraxiom. Earlier milestones include his debut at an NXT live event on June 11, 2022, his on-screen debut on NXT Level Up in July 2022, and his independent-circuit success with the ROW Tag Team Championship. His split from Drew Gulak in February 2023 also served as a turning point, pushing him toward the tag team division where he found his greatest success.
Hank Walker Career Wins
Although still early in his professional wrestling career, Hank Walker has already built an impressive list of team accomplishments. His partnership with Tank Ledger has produced titles in both WWE and on the independent circuit, establishing him as a dependable tag team competitor in NXT.
NXT Highlights
Walker’s biggest NXT achievement came when he and Tank Ledger defeated Fraxiom at NXT Stand and Deliver to become NXT Tag Team Champions. The duo earned the title shot by winning a tag team gauntlet match on the April 15 episode of NXT. Their reign marked the first championship of Walker’s WWE career and cemented Hank and Tank as a force in the NXT tag team division.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of WWE, Hank and Tank captured the Reality of Wrestling Tag Team Championship on December 14, 2024, before dropping the titles on March 8, 2025. They held the championship for 84 days. These independent successes helped build their reputation as a top-tier tag team leading into their NXT title run.
Hank Walker Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
There is no widely available public information about Joseph Sculthorpe’s parents or family background beyond his upbringing in Hampstead, North Carolina. His career path from football to professional wrestling has been the primary focus of public reporting about his personal life.
Personal Life
Sculthorpe, who performs as Hank Walker, balances his wrestling career with the discipline he developed as a college athlete. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in sociology, reflecting an interest in understanding people and society beyond the ring.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a breakout year for Hank Walker and Tank Ledger as a team. They entered the year as reigning Reality of Wrestling Tag Team Champions and used that momentum to push for gold in NXT. Their win in the tag team gauntlet match on April 15 set the stage for their biggest opportunity yet at NXT Stand and Deliver.
At NXT Stand and Deliver, Hank and Tank defeated Fraxiom to win the NXT Tag Team Championship, giving Walker his first taste of championship gold in WWE. The victory established them as a top team in the NXT division and signaled that the duo is in the title picture for the remainder of 2025. With their size, chemistry, and growing fan support, Hank and Tank appear poised to defend their titles and build on their early success as the year continues.
