Sunday April 20th, 2025 history was made in a seemingly random match between Joe Hendry and Randy Orton. Historic for many reasons that many fans are missing because Hendry lost in his Wrestlemania debut. Hendry lost but overall wrestling fans and the industry won.
First Non-WWE Champion to Compete at Wrestlemania
Now, I am sure, if you look hard enough you will probably find a match in a long forgotten Wrestlemania where a non-WWE champion did compete. To that I say, it is not the same. Why? Because if that did happen, I can guarantee it was in on-screen partnership between the WWF, at the time, and the other company.
What I mean is, there have been many times in the past that fans have seemingly forgotten as well that WWE has worked with other companies. I am sure there were many champions from other companies that appeared at Wrestlemania but Hendry’s match is different, more historic for at least one reason if you disagree with everything else.
He walked in with the TNA World Heavyweight title. The top title of TNA was on display to the Wrestlemania crowd and viewers. It was a historic moment.
One storyline that stands out to me was the NWA invasion of 1998. The WWE was not in a great place with viewers during this time as WCW was arguably on fire in a good way. Vince McMahon, on-screen owner of WWE, was pulling all the stops out.
Dan Severn, NWA World Champion, competed on WWE programming but Wrestlemania was not part of it. This storyline started after that year’s Wrestlemania and was fizzled out and done before the next.
I believe the NWA “invasion” ran through Summer Slam.
Many would say Mike Awesome vs Taz for the ECW Heavyweight title but that is historic for other reasons. None of which involves Wrestlemania.
This is not the first time a TNA championship appeared at a WWE Premium Live Event. Mickie James was a surprise entrant in the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble wearing the Impact Knockouts Championship (Impact was a name diversion in the history of TNA). Again, not Wrestlemania but still historic.
Joe Hendry was the first non-WWE champion to carry their company’s Heavyweight Championship into Wrestlemania.
Many Fans Are Negative About Hendry at Wrestlemania
Many fans online are upset that Hendry did not get a longer match. Upset that he lost. Upset that in their eyes, his appearance and how it went devalues TNA and their championship.
I disagree.
Joe Hendry appearing at Wrestlemania, not in the crowd, not as a fan but as a competitor, win or lose elevates the TNA World Championship. How so?
For one, it lends legitimacy to TNA, they can use it in marketing. Hendry came to the ring wearing special merch celebrating the event. He can name drop having faced Randy Orton at Wrestlemania. If the TNA marketing team are smart, they will use this in promos.
At the bare minimum, fans should look at this as WWE saying, “We see you TNA, your top guy is at least as good as others Orton has defeated at Wrestlemania.”
Hendry can now stand with Mick Foley, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Kane, Bray Wyatt, and Seth Rollins. All names that could be theoretically name dropped to turn Hendry’s loss into a win for TNA.
Those are some big names to stand with, even in defeat. Tag champs, Heavyweight champions, Universal Champions, etc. There is a significant amount of heritage in those names.
The Future of TNA
This sets a precedent for all TNA champions, not just their World Heavyweight title holder. While many would say this honor belongs to Mickie James, I disagree due to one major component.
She has worked with WWE before. Hendry has not.
You may be thinking then it belongs to Jordynne Grace, but her appearance was also at Royal Rumble, not Wrestlemania.
Moose also appeared carrying the X-Division title in NXT.
Having TNA’s top title appear at Wrestlemania is big. It elevates all of the titles of TNA. It also gives an air of mystery – what title could appear next? Will WWE champions, carrying their belts, appear at TNA events?
Any athlete competing for any championship in TNA has to now have hopes of appearing on WWE programming as a bonus. The fact this can happen elevates the titles available, especially those that have appeared already but more so those that have not yet crossed over. Everyone wants to be the first.
While it does hit hard that Hendry lost, it was expected. WWE are not going to make one of their top guys lose, even to a crowd controlling master such as Hendry, not at Wrestlemania at least. I can see a WWE star taking the L at a lesser event – maybe Survivor Series (could you imagine a TNA faction taking on a WWE faction?).
The question is, who will be the first TNA star to earn a win over a WWE superstar?