WWE: Joe Hendry on WWE & TNA Partnership Allows Him to Train Full Time at WWE Performance Center, Charlotte Flair Knee Injury Update, More News

Joe Hendry Comments on WWE & TNA Partnership Allows Him to Train Full Time at Performance Center

A recent episode of The Wrestling Mat podcast featured TNA Wrestling talent Joe Hendry as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Hendry’s thoughts about him being involved in the current talent crossover between TNA and WWE and revealed that he is allowed to train full time at WWE’s Performance Center.

“I’m in a situation where we’re having historic collaboration between TNA Wrestling and WWE. We’re in a situation where TNA Wresting have worked it out with WWE where I can appear on TNA Wrestling as a contracted talent, I can appear on NXT, and I can train at the Performance Center full-time and do indies and do signings. This is unprecedented. It’s never been done before in the business. So thank you to TNA and WWE for figuring it out.

I have no ego when it comes to getting better. That’s why I’m training at the Performance Center. I’m never just gonna rest the skills that I’ve got. I’m always trying to build to something more. I’m very grateful to TNA Wrestling for giving me the opportunity to do that. I think I’m collaborating really well with management, and I think we’re putting ourselves in a position to do historic business for TNA.”

Hendry also gave his thoughts about working with WWE SVP of NXT and Talent Relations and NXT head booker Shawn Michaels during his time in WWE’s NXT brand.

“For me personally, from a training perspective, Shawn’s giving me a huge opportunity, and Shawn said, ‘Hey, this door is open. If you want to train at the Performance Center, we’re gonna open that door.’ I was like, ‘Let’s do it.’ I said, ‘Give me a week to sort out my real-life stuff back home in Scotland, and let’s go.’ We figured it out. So right now, I’m training at the Performance Center and I’m here in Orlando, and I’m getting this amazing opportunity to learn from the greatest in-ring performer of all time.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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Charlotte Flair Knee Injury Status Update

As noted before, Charlotte Flair has been out of action for WWE since this past December due to a torn ACL, torn meniscus, and torn MCL injuries and underwent surgery this past January.

Flair provided an update on Tuesday on Instagram posting a video of her training in the ring at WWE’s Performance Center as part of her current rehab from her knee injury.

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WWE News & Notes

Wednesday’s WWE Speed show on Twitter featured Joaquin Wilde defeating Axiom to advance to the next round of WWE’s newest #1 Contender’s tournament for the WWE Speed Championship. Wilde will be facing off against the winner of Pete Dunne/Julius Creed in the Quarterfinal round of WWE’s newest #1 Contender tournament.

CM Punk recently posted a new set of photos on Instagram with one of the photos featuring him recently hanging out with AEW’s Brody King and Darby Allin.

Marigold owner Rossy Ogawa recently revealed on Twitter that Kevin Owens was in attendance at Marigold’s Summer Gold Shine 2024 event on Tuesday in Tokyo, Japan.

WWE recently announced that this Saturday’s Countdown pre-show for SummerSlam 2024 will be three hours in length starting at 4PM EST.

C4 Energy announced that they have recently partnered together with WWE for a co-promoted fan meet & greet event on August 1st in Strongsville, Ohio.

As noted before, LWO’s Cruz Del Toro has been out of action for WWE since this past April due to an arm-related injury. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Del Toro made his in-ring return from injury at this past Monday’s WWE Main Event tapings that were held prior to the start of RAW in St. Paul, Minnesota.

This past Sunday’s San Diego Comic Con 2024 event in San Diego, California featured a The Simpsons panel with series creator Matt Groening and showrunner Matt Selman among the guests. During the panel, it was announced that John Cena will be among the celebrity guests making an appearance in the upcoming new season. It was also announced that Cena will be making an appearance on the premiere of Season 36, which will air on September 8th on FOX.

This past Monday’s WWE RAW show in St. Paul, Minnesota featured Seth Rollins wearing a puffy shoulders referee shirt for his referee instructions promo segment with CM Punk and Drew McIntyre. Rollins recently reflected on Twitter about the referee shirt he wore and promised this was just the appetizer for what he has in store for the Special Guest Referee match between Punk and McIntyre at SummerSlam 2024. Rollins stated “This is just the appetizer, baby. You gotta tune into #SummerSlam on Saturday for the main course…we’re gonna be eatin’ goooood!“

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, Shawn Michaels gave his thoughts about his second ladder match against Razor Ramon at WWF SummerSlam 1995. Michaels stated “Sequels are always tough, but this is one I think that doesn’t quite get the recognition it deserves,” he said. “There’s a simple reason for why: it’s number two. Number one is always first. That’s when the moment shifts. There’s only one first time.“

In a recent backstage digital exclusive interview with WWE, Roxanne Perez gave her thoughts about her victory over Thea Hail to retain her NXT Women’s Championship at Tuesday’s NXT Great American Bash 2024 Week 1 show. Perez stated “I’ll give Thea respect because she almost had me there, but realistically, everybody needs to stop worrying about everybody else around the world. Not a Thea, not a Giulia, not a Stephanie. NXT is the best women’s division in the world, and this [title] is on my shoulder, which means I am the best woman in the world.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)