The recently made TNA World Heavyweight Champion Joe Hendry has stated that he would really like to face WWE legend John Cena to defend his belt. This goal coincides with Cena’s 2025 retirement tour, which offers a rare chance for a high-profile cross-promotional match.
Hendry’s Challenge to Cena
Prior to his championship victory, Hendry outlined his intentions during an interview on “Talk is Jericho.” He stated that upon winning the TNA World Title at Slammiversary, he planned to challenge Cena directly, saying, “I’m going to raise the title above my head, I’m going to take the microphone, and I’m going to say, ‘John Cena, you’ve done everything in this business. Almost, everything. If you want to cross the line…'”
TNA and WWE Partnership
The current alliance between TNA Wrestling and WWE has increased the likelihood that Hendry will face Cena. This multi-year arrangement, which was announced on January 16, 2025, allows WWE NXT and TNA Wrestling programs to exchange talent. TNA entertainers like Jordynne Grace have already appeared on NXT and competed in the Women’s Royal Rumble Match as a result of the partnership. In a same vein, Wolfgang, Dante Chen, Karmen Petrovic, and Arianna Grace from WWE have all been on TNA shows.
Cena’s Response and Retirement Tour
On social media, John Cena, who declared he will retire from in-ring action at the end of 2025, acknowledged the WWE-TNA partnership. Hendry maintained his interest in a fight by replying to Cena’s posts and advancing his campaign for a possible bout.
Hendry’s Commitment to TNA
Following his title win at TNA Genesis 2025, where he defeated Nic Nemeth, Hendry addressed fans, expressing his dedication to elevating the TNA World Championship. He emphasized that this achievement is just the beginning, stating, “We’re just getting started.”
Looking Ahead
There is a lot of speculation in the wrestling community regarding possible dream battles as John Cena’s retirement tour moves on. Given the cooperative framework now in place between TNA and WWE, Joe Hendry’s open challenge adds a fascinating narrative to this environment. Supporters anxiously anticipate any events that might result in this cross-promotional meeting, which would be a significant milestone for both teams.