Randy Orton’s path to WrestleMania 41 took a dramatic turn after his originally scheduled opponent, Kevin Owens, was pulled from the event due to a neck injury. The change occurred during the April 4 episode of WWE SmackDown, where Owens announced he wouldn’t be medically cleared in time for the show.
In response, Randy Orton issued an open challenge to anyone willing to face him on the grand stage of WrestleMania 41. The challenge was ultimately answered by TNA World Champion Joe Hendry, who made a surprise appearance and stepped up for the high-profile bout.
Hendry, who made his main roster debut at the 2025 Royal Rumble, made his second major WWE Premium Live Event appearance with this match, further cementing his presence within WWE’s orbit despite currently holding TNA gold.
WWE Considered Jeff Hardy as Randy Orton’s WrestleMania 41 Opponent
However, according to Cory Hays of PW Nexus, another major name was under serious consideration to face Orton before the company settled on Hendry: Jeff Hardy.
Hays reports that Jeff Hardy was pitched as a potential opponent for Orton, adding to the intrigue surrounding WrestleMania 41’s ever-evolving match card. Jeff and his brother Matt Hardy recently made their return to WWE programming with appearances on NXT. The duo are currently reigning as the TNA World Tag Team Champions, and Matt Hardy has teased the possibility of those titles appearing on WWE’s main roster.
Had the plan gone forward, Jeff Hardy vs. Randy Orton would have marked another chapter in their long-standing rivalry, adding nostalgia and excitement to the WrestleMania card. Though WWE ultimately went with Joe Hendry, the inclusion of Hardy in creative discussions shows the company is keeping its options open as it blurs the lines between promotions.
Whether or not Jeff Hardy will have a full-fledged return to WWE remains to be seen, but his name being floated for a WrestleMania match suggests the door is wide open.
Ahmed
