Joe Hendry’s path to redemption has been set, as he will officially challenge for the TNA World Championship at the Slammiversary event on July 20. The announcement solidifies his mission to reclaim the title he lost on enemy territory.
The championship opportunity was granted during an early sneak peek of the June 26 episode of TNA iMPACT! that aired on TNA+. Hendry opened the show by addressing the pain of his title loss to Trick Williams at NXT Battleground, thanking the fans for their support. This prompted an appearance from Santino Marella, who declared that Hendry would receive his championship match at Slammiversary.
Hendry’s determination to regain the title has been clear. In a June 18 interview, he confirmed he held a rematch clause and felt a responsibility to bring the championship back to the company.
“I was the team captain and I dropped the ball and now the TNA World Championship is in WWE territory so someone has to get it back,” Hendry stated.
The animosity between Hendry and the current champion, Trick Williams, has already escalated physically. During a Champions Challenge on the June 19 edition of TNA iMPACT!, the two had a direct confrontation that saw Hendry deliver a back bodydrop to Williams.
As it stands, Hendry is now slated to face Williams at Slammiversary, though the exact match format has not yet been specified.
