TNA World Champion Joe Hendry recently responded to fan concerns that he was “squashed” by Randy Orton during their much-discussed match at WWE WrestleMania 41 in April 2025.
During an appearance on Insight With Chris Van Vliet, Hendry shared his perspective on the bout and its broader implications. He highlighted the importance of understanding the context of going up against a wrestling icon like Orton on such a massive platform.
“The thing is, one, it was back and forth, so I got offense in,” Hendry explained. “It’s Randy Orton’s 20th WrestleMania. It’s also Randy Orton. The thing is, I did the spin around. So it’s me being the Joe Hendry character, the RKO is one hit kill.”
Joe HendryHe emphasized that the feedback the match generated, and the match itself, served the exact purpose intended for TNA Wrestling. “That show, the feedback that I got was exactly what it was supposed to be,” Hendry said.
Hendry also cited the momentum the company gained afterward. “And let’s be honest. The next how many days later, we had the biggest show TNA has ever had in 10 years, we had a higher attendance at Slammiversary… I understand what this is, and my job is to put asses in seats for TNA wrestling.”