Even though he seems to be stuck in the middle in the ongoing TNA vs. NXT war and as such isn't included in the Survivor Series style men's match, Joe Hendry will be at next week's Showdown special.
Posting to social media today, Hendry indicated that he will be at the event despite being excluded from Team TNA where he was excluded from the group due to captain Mike Santana's reservations about where Hendry's loyalties lie. Here's what Hendry had to say:
"Joe Hendry changed the entire landscape of NXT vs. TNA. I was the guy that got the call as TNA Champion to be in the Royal Rumble, to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania. My first appearance in NXT was the most-watched video in all of wrestling last year,” Hendry said. “And now you’re going to tell me that I’m not involved in Showdown? No. Guess what? They’re going to say his name, and he is going to appear at Showdown next Tuesday."
Henry is technically still with TNA both from a storyline and real-life roster perspective but has featured regularly on NXT. It is believed that once his TNA contract expires, he will sign a new deal with WWE and jump over to NXT or possibly one of the main brands.
Former TNA wrestler and now NXT performer Jordynne Grace was also not picked for either Showdown team and she also posted a video, expressing her frustration feeling she is one of the reasons that this event and the NXT-TNA partnership is even happening.
Below is the current lineup for Showdown which takes place on Tuesday during NXT on CW:
- Men's Survivor Series Style Match: Team NXT (Ricky Saints, Trick Williams, Myles Borne & Je’Von Evans) vs. Team TNA (Mike Santana, Frankie Kazarian, Moose & Leon Slater)
- Women's Survivor Series Style Match: Team NXT (Jacy Jayne, Sol Ruca, Jaida Parker & Lola Vice) vs. Team TNA (Kelani Jordan, The IInspiration & Mara Sade)
- Title-for-Title Match: NXT Tag Team Champions DarkState vs. TNA Tag Team Champions The Hardys
- NXT North American Champion Ethan Page vs. Mustafa Ali
- Joe Hendry appearance
