Report: Popular Former WWE Champion Initially Considered To Be Randy Orton's WrestleMania 41 Opponent

Joe Hendry ultimately faced Randy Orton in an open challenge at WWE WrestleMania 41, but a popular former WWE Champion was also considered for the Orton match before WWE settled on the TNA World Champion.

According to Cory Hays of PWN/Bodyslam, another TNA Wrestling talent pitched to go one-on-one with Orton at WrestleMania 41 was Jeff Hardy, one-half of the reigning TNA World Tag Team Champions with Matt Hardy. Hardy, of course, remains a popular wrestler and he is a former WWE Champion and World Heavyweight Champion.

Hardy has not wrestled on the main roster since 2021, but Jeff and brother Matt had a brief run in WWE NXT earlier this year as part of the working relationship with TNA.

Cory Hays also noted that Solo Sikoa was never considered to be Randy Orton's opponent at WrestleMania 41. Orton ended up defeating Joe Hendry in three minutes at Mania, with Hendry appearing inside Allegiant Stadium to a monster pop.

Hendry being Orton's opponent was decided upon when news of Kevin Owens' injury was confirmed. Orton was originally scheduled to face Owens but the match was scrapped due to KO's neck injury.

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