At the 2024 Slammiversary pay-per-view event, the TNA World Championship belt was seized by Nic Nemeth. He later came on the “Busted Open Radio” podcast to address some of the criticisms he received from fans for triumphing over Joe Hendry.
The podcast covers several points of interest, which can be found below:
Regarding Joe Hendry’s loss in the match, Nemeth said, “Many thought it could have been his night. With that, come certain backstage factors and company-wide considerations to ensure he’s shown in the best possible light. Mostly, I feel that would add a surprise element and gain a few additional YouTube views. I’m uncertain if that was the exact reasoning. It could have been. In this scenario, someone who defeats the three-year undefeated Moose, delivers one of the top performances among the six fighters in the match, emerges with people in the audience dressed like him – how long has it been like this? Maybe half a year?”
“It could be the ideal moment, indeed. But, it could also be the perfect time for him to make strides alongside Josh Alexander or me, not just vocally or as an exceptional wrestler, but he needs to prepare to be the absolute best of the best. Such readiness is often lacking in someone riding the momentum wave. ‘Are we at full throttle? Almost there?’ I intend to support him to become the best, so when we fully commit, it becomes one of the greatest moments ever. That’s my chosen perspective. I’m not privy to those meetings or understand the complete scenario.”
Discussing fans’ reaction to Hendry’s loss, Nemeth stated, “We could have taken that route. There’s something extraordinary about him, and I appreciate how enthusiastic many fans are about him. I received numerous compliments and encouraging words about the match. Lots of people comment, ‘Joe Hendry received an unfair disadvantage.’ The least one could say about anyone participating in that match was that someone was given a disadvantage. It was a privileged moment. We crafted several narratives for many people. It’s clear that Joe Hendry is aspiring for the world title. Maybe he deserves it. Incredible developments have taken place, and Joe’s been given a positive spotlight. Our long-term plan involves this guy. Considering he’s spending more time with NXT and other ventures, we need a full-time person at the top of the TNA roster. I desire to be that person and am content being that person.”
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