Hendry, whose career experienced a significant upswing in the past year, marked by viral moments and positive impressions on WWE officials during his NXT appearances in late 2024 and early 2025, stepped into the WrestleMania spotlight after Kevin Owens was sidelined due to a neck injury.

Randy Orton put out an open challenge for anyone to come face him at WrestleMania 41 on Sunday night and Joe Hendry, the TNA world champ, answered him.