Backstage News on Joe Hendry’s Surprise WrestleMania 41 Appearance – In a shocking twist during WrestleMania 41 Sunday, TNA World Champion Joe Hendry made a surprise appearance, answering Randy Orton’s open challenge after Kevin Owens was pulled due to injury. While Hendry’s inclusion stunned fans worldwide, it also reportedly caught several within TNA Wrestling off guard.
According to Fightful Select, WWE made the call to reach out to Hendry shortly after it became clear that Owens would be unable to compete. Despite Hendry being under an active TNA contract, an agreement was swiftly and quietly negotiated, allowing the Scottish star to perform on WWE’s biggest stage. Sources indicate this deal came together in the 24-hour window between the final SmackDown before WrestleMania and Night 2 of the show itself.
Multiple TNA officials and talent are said to have only found out about Hendry’s involvement late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, highlighting just how tightly this appearance was kept under wraps. It’s currently unknown if TNA executives greenlit the move in advance or were informed after the fact, but there has been no public friction between the two companies over the crossover.
Hendry’s current contract with TNA is reportedly set to expire within the next year. Notably, he has recently secured professional representation, leading to speculation that he may be evaluating future options beyond his current home promotion. While WWE has not commented on whether this appearance signals interest in signing Hendry full-time, his high-profile spot against Orton certainly won’t go unnoticed by major companies.
As for the match itself, Hendry got in some offense before falling victim to a signature RKO from Orton. After the bout, the 14-time World Champion briefly showed respect to Hendry before delivering another RKO, bringing an exclamation point to a memorable moment for both men.
Whether Hendry’s WrestleMania moment is a one-time surprise or a teaser for more cross-promotional collaboration remains to be seen. Stay tuned to WrestlingAttitude.Com for updates on Joe Hendry’s status as more details emerge.
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Backstage News on Joe Hendry’s Surprise WrestleMania 41 Appearance
