BANKIE'S HOT TAKE #112 - Joe Hendry & TNA's World Championship on WrestleMania 41
- Bankie Bruce
- 9 minutes ago
- 2 min read
If you would have told me back, in the mid-2000s, that the Total Nonstop Action World Championship belt would be on camera at WrestleMania, I’d have called you crazy.
Actually, I’d probably call you insane. Which is a synonym for crazy.
Either way, I’d think that would never be a possibility.
Until this past Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. Joe Hendry, TNA World Champion, answered Randy Orton’s open challenge for WrestleMania 41. After getting hit with an RKO out of nowhere, Hendry took the fall. However, on all accounts, Hendry received acceptance from “the Viper” and gave him his blessing following his RKO..
I understand that Joe Hendry has appeared on WWE TV before with the TNA World Title at this year’s Royal Rumble on February 1. I know there is precedent with Mickie James with the TNA Knockouts Title as well.
But this is WRESTLEMANIA.
The TNA World Heavyweight Championship was created in May of 2007, shortly after the NWA removed their affiliations, as well as the NWA branded championships, from TNA. TNA, in turn, created their own championships, "due to TNA's growing worldwide exposure, the company needed to have its own TNA title belts", as per Management Director Jim Cornette.
The title has been rebranded several times, from the IMPACT Wrestling World Championship to the GFW World Heavyweight Title, back to the IMPACT World Championship, and then finally returning to the TNA World Championship in January 2024 when the company rebranded back to TNA. It’s been a long journey for that title.
It also shows how far and how popular Joe Hendry has become as a performer. Initially creating his theme song “I Believe in Joe Hendry” back in 2019 when he was in Ring Of Honor, Hendry found who he was, dyed his hair blond, amped up his personality to the max, and became a must-watch performer for TNA. His song parodies towards countless wrestlers were hilarious.
Many people thought he was just a meme - he proved those skeptics wrong. After a near year build, Hendry pinned Nic Nemeth on January 19, 2025 in Garland, TX in the main event of Genesis to win the TNA World Championship. His work to promote TNA in various media interviews has been extraordinary.
The most important take that I want to give is this. For those that think Joe Hendry was “squashed” or “buried” is ridiculous. He stood toe-to-toe and went 50/50 with Randy Orton. Not only that, the commentators, Wade Barrett in particular, said that Hendry answered the challenge when many in Orton’s own WWE locker room would not. Hendry had guts.
The bottom line is this: TNA comes out looking strong, as their World Champion wrestled on WrestleMania. Joe Hendry comes out looking strong, as his appearance not only went viral, but the fans in attendance were overjoyed. And WWE comes out looking strong, as for the first time ever, they are properly using partnerships with other promotions and putting eyes on other brands with respect.
TNA’s World Championship at WrestleMania 41? It’s not a dream; it happened. It ACTUALLY happened.
Bankie Bruce
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