Randy Orton issued an open challenge at WWE WrestleMania 41, having lost his original opponent to injury, and another name was considered.
The April 4 episode of WWE SmackDown saw Kevin Owens withdraw from his match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 due to a neck injury.
With Randy Orton having issued an open challenge for an opponent at WrestleMania 41, it would be answered by TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
Having made his main roster debut at the 2025 Royal Rumble, this marks the second appearance at a major WWE Premium Live Event for Hendry.
Hendry wasn’t the only name to be considered as a respondee to Randy Orton’s open challenge, however, with Cory Hays of PW Nexus reporting a second name familiar to WWE fans.
According to Hays’ sources, Jeff Hardy was another name among those pitched to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41.
Matt and Jeff Hardy have recently appeared on NXT, with the pair previously discussing their return to WWE television.
The Hardys are currently the TNA World Tag Team Champions, with Matt Hardy teasing the possibility of the championship being on the main roster during their discussion about their return to WWE.
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