It’s TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
The suspense surrounding Randy Orton’s WrestleMania 41 opponent was the talk of the wrestling world, and when the moment finally arrived on Night 2 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, it delivered a jaw-dropping surprise that no one saw coming. With Kevin Owens sidelined by a neck injury requiring surgery, Orton’s 20th WrestleMania appearance was thrown into uncertainty, fueling weeks of speculation. Fans tossed around names like Rusev, Sheamus, and Sami Zayn, but WWE pulled off a historic curveball, revealing TNA World Champion Joe Hendry as The Viper’s mystery opponent in a groundbreaking WWE-TNA crossover match. The WWE Universe lost it, and the moment instantly became one for the history books.
“Say his name and he appears!”
The buildup was pure WWE magic. Orton, the 14-time World Champion, stood in the ring, mic in hand, issuing an open challenge to anyone daring enough to face him. The anticipation was electric—would it be a returning legend or a current star? When Joe Hendry’s infectious “I Believe in Joe Hendry” theme hit, the crowd erupted. Sporting the TNA World Championship, Hendry strutted out, representing TNA in a way never seen before on The Grandest Stage of Them All. As noted by ScreenRant, Hendry became the first non-WWE champion to compete at WrestleMania, a testament to the deepening partnership between WWE and TNA that’s been brewing since their 2024 collaboration
This wasn’t just a match—it was a statement. The WWE-TNA crossover, which began with NXT talent like Cora Jade appearing on TNA iMPACT! and Hendry’s own NXT stints in 2024, reached new heights. Hendry’s Royal Rumble 2025 appearance had already teased his potential on WWE’s main stage, but WrestleMania 41 made it real. As he told Ariel Helwani, the fan reaction at the Rumble made him believe a WrestleMania moment wasn’t “that crazy,”
Who won the match?
The match was a masterclass in storytelling and athleticism. Hendry, TNA’s charismatic powerhouse, went toe-to-toe with Orton, proving he belonged on wrestling’s biggest stage. He stunned the crowd early, countering an RKO attempt with a schoolboy roll-up for a heart-stopping near-fall. Hendry’s arsenal—crisp neckbreakers, a booming fallaway slam—kept Orton reeling, while The Viper answered with his trademark snap powerslam and hanging DDT. The Vegas crowd was electric as both men traded near-falls, with Hendry dodging one RKO only to get caught by a second, perfectly timed “outta nowhere.” As covered by Cageside Seats, Randy Orton won with that RKO, pinning Hendry after a 4-minute thriller. In a classy touch, Orton raised Hendry’s hand post-match, only to sneak in a playful second RKO, cementing his Apex Predator aura.