Fresh off their four-way title match at “WWE NXT” Heatwave, Ethan Page, Shawn Spears, Trick Williams, and Je’Von Evans were slated to meet in tag team action, specifically with the former two taking on the latter pair. Ahead of their tag bout, though, the newly reinstated Brooks Jensen attacked Evans backstage, rendering him unable to compete. As such, Williams was then tasked with finding a new tag team partner for the evening. That replacement partner was later revealed to be TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry, who marked his first appearance on the “NXT” brand since the June 18 episode of “NXT.”
Hendry and Williams proved to be quite successful in their debut as a pair, namely as Hendry laid out Spears with a chokeslam for the win. The duo did find themselves with a significant advantage in the match’s closing moments, however, as Page fled through the crowd after being attacked by Oro Mensah. Regardless of the circumstances, Hendry has now earned his first official victory under the banner of WWE.
Last month, Hendry appeared, albeit briefly, in a 25-man battle royal to determine the number one contender for the NXT Championship. Following this outing, Hendry’s face notably surfaced at the end of the “NXT” Heatwave premium live event, and in a commercial promoting Tuesday’s episode of “NXT.” Recent reports indicated that WWE officials were planning to heavily utilize Hendry on their programming again in the coming months, which has now seemingly begun with an alliance alongside the now former NXT Champion Trick Williams.
Former WWE NXT North American Champion Wes Lee came out to the ring alone, ready to address the fans following his crushing loss to champion Oba Femi at WWE NXT Heatwave, which robbed Lee of further opportunities at the North American Title, when he was surprised by some supportive faces from his past.
Former TNA World Tag Team Champions Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz, known as The Rascalz, made a surprise appearance on Tuesday, shocking the fans and their former fellow Rascal. The tandem’s appearance is yet another chapter in the cross-promotion between WWE and TNA, where Wentz and Miguel are currently employed, following in the footsteps of Kazarian, Joe Hendry, and TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace. Later in the night, the reunited trio were confronted by the dastardly Gallus, who threw cold water on the group’s reunion, leading to a six-man tag match set for next week’s “WWE NXT.”
WWE NXT Superstar Charlie Dempsey made an appearance on this week’s episode of TNA Impact.
In the opening match, Dempsey appeared by attacking Leon Slater, Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz. He then assaulted the referee and put Slater in an STF before TNA officials came out and made him leave.
Dempsey is part of the No Quarter Catch Crew in WWE NXT.
.@WWENXT Superstar Charlie Dempsey just caused CHAOS in the iMPACT Zone!
The TNA World Champion and the NXT North American Champion have been teasing a clash. WWE and TNA have staged appearances from one another’s rosters as of late, with Jordynne Grace challenging for the NXT Women’s Championship and then defending her TNA Knockouts title just days later against “WWE NXT” star Tatum Paxley.
As such, North American Champion Oba Femi earmarked TNA World Champion Moose when asked who he’s looking to face in a potential crossover. Not one to take the challenge lightly, Moose has taken to social media to call Femi’s bluff.
“Ok Oba Femi my Nigerian brother. Get your boss Shawn Michaels the chef to call my boss and I’ll gladly take down “NXT’s” juggernaut. #TrustTheSystem,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
In an interview with Busted Open Radio (via Fightful), Matt Hardy spoke about he and his brother Jeff winding down their careers and noted that he hopes they end up back in WWE. Here are highlights:
On how he wants their careers to end: “I would like to do TNA and have a hell of a run there, and then I almost feel like now, just the destiny has revealed itself in many ways, I almost feel Jeff and I, we end up returning to WWE, do something small and then go onto the Hall of Fame. That’s a best case scenario.”
On Jeff Hardy wanting to prove himself: “That’s a great question. I think Jeff really wanted to come back to TNA to continue to build equity, and he knows that TNA and WWE are working together. I have friends in the WWE, I have spoken with people in WWE. So I think Jeff just wants to once again just show people how he is a different human being. The way to put equity into that is to go to TNA, have a kickass run, and show people he’s on his best behavior.”
Say his name and he appears – TNA Wrestling’s Joe Hendry appeared on this week’s episode of WWE NXT.
On this week’s edition of WWE NXT, a 25-man battle royal to determine Trick Williams’ challenger for the NXT Championship at NXT Heatwave took place in the opening match.
Both Joe Hendry and Frankie Kazarian from TNA Wrestling competed in the battle royal. Hendry wound up being quickly eliminated by Kazarian, which the crowd at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, FL wasn’t happy with.
WWE main roster stars Dragon Lee, Angel, Berto, Apollo Crews, and Tyler Bate all participated in the match.
Kazarian wound up making it to the final four, with Je’Von Evans taking out Shawn Spears to win the match. We’ll now see Je’Von Evans vs. Trick Williams taking place at WWE NXT Heatwave.
Fightful Select has shared an update on the developments regarding The Hardy Boys.
Jeff Hardy returned to TNA Wrestling at Against Odds 2024 last Friday, reuniting with his brother Matt Hardy. Jeff’s AEW contract had reportedly expired at midnight on Friday, June 14, leading to his TNA return.
Matt and Jeff are currently free agents working in TNA without contracts. According to sources, there had been speculation about Jeff’s imminent appearance in TNA, although no official confirmation was provided before June 14.
Matt’s initial agreement with TNA was reportedly short-term; however, additional dates and plans have been included.
The report also mentions that there have been discussions about Reby Hardy potentially competing in a match, although this has not been confirmed. Reby last competed in a TNA match in 2016.
TNA sources expressed satisfaction with the post-show speech by The Hardys, Nic Nemeth, and Joe Hendry at Against All Odds 2024.