Linus Ullmark made 27 saves for his first career playoff shutout in the Ottawa Senators’ 4-0 win over the host Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday night in Game 5 of their Eastern Conference best-of-seven first-round playoff series.

The Maple Leafs lead the series 3-2, but the Senators have claimed the last two and host Game 6 on Thursday.

Tim Stutzle and Brady Tkachuk each had a goal and two assists and defenseman Thomas Chabot and Dylan Cozens also scored for the Senators.

Anthony Stolarz stopped 15 of 17 shots for the Maple Leafs, who have lost 13 of their last 14 chances to close out a playoff series.

Chabot gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead 3:46 into the second period.

Stutzle won the face-off and he and Tkachuk combined to get the puck to Chabot at the left point. He moved to the center of the ice and, from just inside the blue line, beat Stolarz with a wrist shot for his first career playoff goal.

Cozens’ short-handed goal 8:24 into the third period stretched the Senators’ lead to 2-0. He scored from the slot off the rush after taking a pass from Adam Gaudette. It was also Cozens’ first career playoff marker.

Stutzle produced an empty-net goal with 2:51 left and Tkackuk added another empty-netter with 47 seconds left.

The Maple Leafs outshot the Senators 12-3 in the first period, but Ottawa came the closest to scoring in the first 20 minutes.

After Perron hit the goal post from the left circle 2:06 into the game, the puck caromed off of Stolarz’s equipment and was sliding toward the goal line, inches away from it, before Toronto defenseman Morgan Rielly knocked it away and under Stolarz.

After Chabot gave Ottawa a 1-0 lead, Toronto’s Steven Lorentz was poised to get the equalizer late in the second. He took a stretch pass from Stolarz and appeared to be in alone on Ullmark, but defenseman Nikolas Matinpalo and forward David Perron combined to bother Lorentz and knock the puck away.

Carolina Hurricanes eliminate New Jersey Devils with 2OT win

Sebastian Aho scored his second goal of the game at 4:17 of the second overtime period, and the Carolina Hurricanes advanced to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs with a 5-4 win against the New Jersey Devils in Game 5 on Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C.

With less than a minute remaining on a high-sticking double minor to New Jersey’s Dawson Mercer, Aho beat goalie Jacob Markstrom with a one-timer from the right circle.

Aho also had an assist and Pyotr Kochetkov made 31 saves for the Hurricanes, who overcame a three-goal deficit on Tuesday to capture the best-of-seven series. Taylor Hall, Jackson Blake and Andrei Svechnikov also scored for Carolina, which will face the winner of the Washington Capitals-Montreal Canadiens series in the next round.

Carolina’s Shayne Gostisbehere and Seth Jarvis each logged two assists.

Stefan Noesen had a goal and an assist, and Brett Pesce had two assists for the Devils. Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier added goals, and Markstrom made 48 saves.

Vegas Golden Knights top Minnesota Wild in OT

Brett Howden scored at 4:05 of overtime to give the Vegas Golden Knights a 3-2 victory over the Minnesota Wild in Game 5 of the Western Conference first round on Tuesday night in Las Vegas.

Howden, alone at the bottom edge of the left circle, one-timed a backhand pass from Tanner Pearson from the end boards inside the far post. It was his third goal of the playoffs and second career overtime winner with the Golden Knights.

William Karlsson scored a shorthanded goal, Jack Eichel had two assists and Mark Stone also scored for Vegas, which took a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven series.

Adin Hill made 20 saves for the Golden Knights, who can wrap up the series with a Game 6 win on Thursday night in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Mattias Janmark scores game-winner to lift Edmonton Oilers past LA Kings

Mattias Janmark scored the third-period game-winning goal to give the visiting Edmonton Oilers a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday and put them one win away from advancing in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Evander Kane and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins also scored for the Oilers in yet another comeback victory, which gives them a 3-2 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference first-round series.

Goaltender Calvin Pickard made 21 saves.

Leon Draisaitl collected an assist to tie a franchise record with his 19th consecutive playoff game against the Kings with a point. He has netted 17 goals and 19 assists in that run.

The Oilers will try to close out the series Thursday at home. Edmonton is looking to knock out the Kings in the first round for the fourth consecutive year.

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Three days and 257 picks later, the 2025 NFL Draft is behind us. NFL teams sent a clear message with their use of draft capital as to what they’re prioritizing ahead of the season.

The draft came weeks after the start of free agency which saw plenty of movement in the veteran market. Former Pro Bowl and All-Pro players are in new places, like Davante Adams in Los Angeles and DK Metcalf in Pittsburgh.

Both moves brought plenty of fantasy football implications with them. The same goes for the draft as teams used their draft picks on offense powered by a very deep, talented running back class.

Many teams have a roster reset following the draft’s completion. Fantasy football stars and starters from last year could see a smaller role while others might have a better chance to thrive.

We’re taking a look at who has much to gain from the 2025 NFL Draft and those who do not. Here are six winners and six losers from the draft results:

Fantasy football winners from the 2025 NFL Draft

Geno Smith, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders picked the best running back (Ashton Jeanty) in an outstanding class in the first round then followed it up with one of the top possession receivers (Jack Bech) in the class in Round 2. By the end of Day 3, Las Vegas had selected two more receivers: an outside receiver (Dont’e Thornton Jr.) and a prospect for the slot (Tommy Mellott).

Smith already had record-breaking tight end Brock Bowers to throw to in his first year with the Raiders. Now the team has multiple legitimate threats in the passing game and brought in depth on the offensive line to keep Smith protected.

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

Carolina invested in offense last offseason and continued to build up even more in the draft this year. First-round pick Tetairoa McMillan and sixth-rounder Jimmy Horn Jr. bring different skillsets to the wide receiver room alongside 2024 top pick Xavier Legette.

Young looked much improved down the stretch of 2024 and, with more investment in the receiving corps and running backs, should be in for more improvement. Carolina now has a mix of youth and experience in the pass catchers and lots of depth at running back. The offense as a whole could take a step forward.

Justin Fields, QB, New York Jets

New York prioritized offense early on in their draft class and it should pay off. With 2024 top pick Olu Fashanu at left tackle and 2025 top pick Armand Membou at right tackle, the Jets have one of the more talented young tackle duos in the league. That should provide Fields with consistent protection.

The Jets followed the Membou pick by taking tight end Mason Taylor in the second round. That move should provide Fields a great No. 2 option in the passing game behind Garrett Wilson. Fields likely will be a featured runner a lot as he was in 2024 with the Steelers, but this opens up more possibilities in the passing game in his first year in New York.

Alvin Kamara, RB, New Orleans Saints

New Orleans spent their top pick on offensive line with Kelvin Banks Jr. and then got great value on Day 3 by selecting running back Devin Neal. The Kansas running back was one of many good early-down running backs in this class. Neal has the skillset to get chunk yards thanks to his patience.

Bringing Neal in should take some of the load off of Kamara in the running game. Kamara hasn’t played more than 15 games in a season since his rookie year and is entering his age-30 season. Neal’s arrival and the upgraded offensive line should be to his benefit.

Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings

After investing in free agency to change the offensive line, the Vikings spent their top pick on another offensive lineman in Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson. That bodes well for Jones and the other Minnesota running backs. Jones had a career-high 1,138 rushing yards last season, but could see an even bigger jump in his production thanks to the improved line.

Ladd McConkey, WR, Los Angeles Chargers

McConkey was one of many impressive rookie wide receivers in 2024. The second-round pick finished top-10 in the league in receiving yards as he quickly became quarterback Justin Herbert’s top target in the passing game.

The Chargers hit offense early and often in the 2025 draft. Los Angeles took running back Omarion Hampton and wide receiver Tre Harris with their first two picks in the class. Both should take some attention away from McConkey from opposing defenses. McConkey should operate from the slot very well again in 2025, but could face less coverage.

Fantasy football losers from the 2025 NFL Draft

Christian McCaffrey, RB, San Francisco 49ers

McCaffrey had a tough 2024 season due to nagging injuries. The league leader in scrimmage yards and touchdowns in 2023 posted career-lows in carries, yards and touchdowns.

San Francisco was one of many teams to take a running back on Day 3 and chose Jordan James in the fifth round. James is very unlikely to be the starter over McCaffrey but offers a great skillset to take some carries off of him. James is a stout, powerful runner and accomplished receiver. That could take some early down carries away from McCaffrey in a bounce-back year.

Jakobi Meyers, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

The upgrades at wide receiver on offense in Las Vegas will cut into Meyers’ target share in the passing game. He was viewed as the No. 2 option behind Bowers but now will have to compete with Bech and Thornton Jr. Add in Jeanty as a receiver out of the backfield and that could see him drop down the hierarchy for what will likely be a run-first offense.

Romeo Doubs, WR, Green Bay Packers

Doubs is entering a contract year after finishing behind Jayden Reed on the Packers in receptions, yards and touchdowns among wide receivers. Then Green Bay went out and drafted Matthew Golden in Round 1 and Savion Williams in Round 3.

Golden is likely to be a vertical threat for quarterback Jordan Love and Williams will be a developmental piece who should get involved in the running game. Neither are Doubs’ strengths but both players will likely diminish his role in a crucial year.

Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Jacksonville made major moves in the draft and prioritized defense in their first two picks. On Day 3, they made a lot of depth moves, including at running back by bringing in the dynamic Bhayshul Tuten and the pass-catching threat LeQuint Allen.

New Jaguars coach Liam Coen made an offense work very well with multiple running backs, but those two rookies likely can take Etienne’s responsibilities. Tank Bigsby, a third-round pick last season, still has value as a power back and should still get a share of the backfield touches.

Calvin Ridley, WR, Tennessee Titans

Tennessee invested in the wide receiver room in free agency and then hit it again in the draft. Fourth-round picks Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike bring youth and a new wrinkle to the passing game. Ayomanor could compete for reps at outside receiver sooner than later. Add in free-agency additions Van Jefferson and Tyler Lockett, and Ridley won’t have a clear path to being the top receiver in Tennessee.

Chris Godwin, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tampa Bay re-signed Godwin in free agency after a devastating ankle injury and looks to be on the right timeline to playing in 2025. But then the Buccaneers went and took Emeka Egbuka with their first-round pick.

Egbuka was one of the most pro-ready receivers in the 2025 class thanks to his impressive route running and quarterback-friendly approach to the position. Egbuka is best in the slot where Godwin’s operated for years and could take a sizable share of targets away from him.

All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter. Check out the latest edition: How did your favorite team fare in the 2025 NFL Draft?

The Kentucky Derby is Saturday and the 20-horse field is set.

The 20-horse field is set and the race tabbed as ‘the most exciting two minutes in sports’ will take place this weekend.

The big race always manages to attract viewers with a wide range of betting experience. Whether it’s your first time betting on the Kentucky Derby or you’re just looking to get familiar with the field, here’s everything you need to know before placing a bet.

Where to bet on the 2025 Kentucky Derby

Some sportsbooks will allow betting on the big race. FanDuel has been one with several options for bettors through its sportsbook and Racing App in 29 states across the county.

Strategies for Kentucky Derby betting

Journalism is considered one of the early favorites to win the Kentucky Derby, but betting on the horse alone may not provide the payout you seek.

You can always feature the favorite as a part of an exacta or a trifecta, or explore other races within the Churchill Downs program on that day to piece together a daily double or a pick-6.

Who are the favorites in the Kentucky Derby this year?

Odds as of 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30, according to KentuckyDerby.com

As previously mentioned, Journalism has been listed as the early favorite at 3-1. Sovereignty has another popular option at 5-1, followed by Sandman at 6-1.

Full Kentucky Derby Odds:

Odds as of 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30, according to KentuckyDerby.com

2025 Kentucky Derby Field: horses and odds

Odds as of 1 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 30, according to KentuckyDerby.com

Kentucky Derby 2025: TV, streaming and where to watch

The 151st Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025. The race will be broadcast on NBC and USA Network. Streaming options will be available on Fubo (which offers a free trial) and Peacock.

• Date: Saturday, May 3, 2025
• Time: 6:45 p.m. ET
• TV: NBC, USA Network
• Stream: Fubo, Peacock
• Location: Churchill Downs (Louisville, Kentucky)

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Life in the Big 12 isn’t for the weak.

If there’s any conference that’s the most chaotic, it’s certainly the Big 12. Every year, it seems like there’s surprises, teams that come from out of nowhere to contend while those expected to be good fall flat. That makes it tough to coach in the league, where the window of success can close rather quickly. Still, there are some that have shown they can stay afloat.

The Big 12 has coaches of all experience levels; those that are entering year 20 on the job and others that are still in the early stages of building their programs. The pecking order of coaches in the league reflect that, as you’ll see some veteran coaches have built continued success, while new ones have quickly found their footing and could be heading toward successful tenures.

In a league that seems to always be shifting in who’s in the hunt, here’s a breakdown of the the 16 head coaches in the Big 12:

1. Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State

This may be a case of recency bias, but Dillingham has orchestrated one of the great turnarounds in college football. Returning to his alma mater, he inherited a team reeling from the Herm Edwards era, and it showed with a 3-9 debut season. But after Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 in 2024, it won the conference and made the College Football Playoff. Dillingham has brought fire back to the Sun Devils and at just 34-years-old, he’s setting the path for a long, successful career.

2. Kalani Sitake, Brigham Young

Sitake took over his alma mater when it was navigating its path as an independent. He was able to raise BYU’s profile with a pair of double-digit win seasons prior to joining the Big 12 for the 2023 season. After a uneventful debut, the Cougars went 11-2 last season and were just a few plays from being in the College Football Playoff. BYU is back to maintaining winning as it has seven bowl appearances in Sitake’s nine seasons, and he’s an impressive 45-18 since 2020.

LOOKING AHEAD: Big Ten leads too-early Top 25 after spring practice

COACHES RANKINGS: Two clear favorites in SEC | Ryan Day leads Big Ten

3. Matt Campbell, Iowa State

Think about where Iowa State was when it hired Campbell; it was coming off three consecutive seasons with at least nine losses. Since then, Campbell has turned the Cyclones from an afterthought to a team consistently punching above its weight. After nine seasons, he’s the winningest coach in school history with 64 wins, and last season, achieved the team’s first 11-win campaign. Campbell could have gone to program’s with more funding and resources, but he’s opted to stay and build a strong foundation at Iowa State.

4. Chris Klieman, Kansas State

All Klieman knows is success. He’s had winning seasons every year but one since he started at North Dakota State in 2014, including a 48-28 record in six seasons at Kansas State. The Wildcats are consistently in the conference title picture and won the league in 2022. Last season was considered a down year, and Kansas State still won nine games for the third season in row. Expect the Wildcats to continue to be contenders under Klieman’s watch.

5. Deion Sanders, Colorado

After bringing prime time to Colorado, Sanders finally delivered with success with nine wins last season – the school’s most since 2016 – and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter. Now the question is whether can Sanders can sustain success without his son, Shedeur, and Hunter. The allure of playing for Sanders is strong, giving the Buffaloes a chance to continue their with more positive results.

6. Joey McGuire, Texas Tech

Texas Tech has become a winning program in Big 12 play since McGuire took over the program, and he’s shown glimpses of success with three consecutive seasons of at least seven wins. Now the real challenge is whether McGuire can get the Red Raiders over the hump to contend for their first conference title. He’s been able to attract top transfers, so now is the time to match the potential.

7. Kyle Whittingham, Utah

Whittingham has turned Utah into a perennial power backed by a tough defense. The Utes were picked to win the Big 12 in the 2024 preseason poll before offensive struggles resulted in a 5-7 finish – Whittingham’s worst record since 2013. The veteran coach has hinted his retirement could be coming soon, so he could be trying to find one solid season to be his swan song to ensure the program is headed in the right direction.

8. Sonny Dykes, TCU

Following the team’s College Football Playoff run in 2022, TCU struggled to build on them momentum and won just five games in 2023. However, Dykes got TCU back on the right track with a 9-4 mark last year. Dykes has won at least seven games in five of his last six seasons, going back to his time at SMU. Dykes and Dillingham are the only coaches in the conference to make the College Football Playoff, and one could argue Dykes’ run is the most impressive given he did it in the four-team playoff.

9. Mike Gundy, Oklahoma State

With the track record Gundy has at Oklahoma State − eight 10+ win seasons − he should be up higher on this list. However, last season was awful for the Cowboys, it’s created doubt about his future. Oklahoma State entered 2024 with its sights on the College Football Playoff, but failed to win a Big 12 game and finished 3-9, the worst record in the Gundy-era. Now the pressure is on to get back to rebound with the Cowboys seemingly poised to be one of the teams to benefit from the departure of Oklahoma and Texas from the league.

10. Rich Rodriguez, West Virginia

West Virginia hopes bringing back Rodriguez could revive the success the program had in the 2000s when it was playing in the BCS bowl games. Rodriguez revitalized his career by guiding Jacksonville State into the Bowl Subdivision success, capturing the Conference USA title in 2024. Now in a Power Four conference again, Rodriguez has to prove he can win at the level again after disappointing tenures at Michigan and Arizona.

11. Dave Aranda, Baylor

There was concern for Aranda’s job security after the 2021 Big 12 title got overshadowed by the horrid 2023 season when Baylor went 3-9. But Aranda went back to calling the defense and hired Jake Spavital to man the offense and it paved the way for an 8-5 season that included six wins in the final seven games. Now the key for Aranda is to maintain success. He has yet to finish over .500 in back-to-back seasons in Waco.

12. Lance Leipold, Kansas

Give Leipold credit for giving Kansas football life when it hadn’t existed in some time. He was able to generate enough investment with a stadium renovation after the Jayhawks won nine games in 2023. There was hype coming in 2024, but quickly ended with a 2-6 start to the season. However, Kansas showed glimpses of promise with a 3-1 finish to the season, including three consecutive wins over ranked opponents. With quarterback Jalon Daniels back, Leipold has a great chance to get Kansas back into a bowl game and revive the hype.

13. Willie Fritz, Houston

There wasn’t much for Fritz to work with in his first season at Houston as the Cougars went 4-8, but there were positive signs that should carry over to the upcoming season. Fritz has a track record of turning teams around − especially at Tulane − so a step in the right direction could be on the horizon for a team that’s 5-13 conference play since joining the Big 12.

14. Scott Satterfield, Cincinnati

It appeared Satterfield had things going in the right direction with the Bearcats starting last 5-2 before five losses to end the season. The Satterfield era has been mostly unimpressive with an 8-16 record in two seasons and he hasn’t been able to capture the same success he had at Appalachian State with a 33-40 mark going back to his Louisville days. A bowl game is at least needed to assure Satterfield some job security.

15. Brent Brennan, Arizona

Brennan inherited an Arizona team that won 10 games in 2023 and retained quarterback Noah Fifita and receiver Tetairoa McMillan. The Wildcats were expected to contend for a Big 12 title, but instead lost seven of their last eight games to finish 4-8. Fumbling the keys to what was a good situation has hurt Brennan’s position with the fanbase and starts the season on the hot seat.

16. Scott Frost, Central Florida

Can Frost recapture magic in Orlando? Frost led UCF to its dream perfect season in 2017 before he had a failed stint at Nebraska, ending his tenure in Lincoln with a 16-31 record in four-plus seasons. Now back at the school he led to a 14-0 season eight years ago, Frost takes over a team that’s struggled in the Big 12 with a 5-13 conference record the past two seasons.

LOS ANGELES — For the past year, Joe Hendry has been doing a lot of moving. Constantly on the go, not giving himself much time to think.

So, when he sat inside the Galen Center as TNA Wrestling prepared for its Rebellion pay-per-view, he actually paused and thought about everything that’s transpired in the past 365 days.

It’s quite a list: He became a viral sensation thanks to his catchy entrance song. He was in the main event of Slammiversary 2024. He made an anticipated crossover to WWE with a thunderous debut in NXT in June, and for extra measure, appeared in the main event match of NXT No Mercy 2024. He won the TNA World Championship in January, and the same month, was the surprise entrant in the 2025 men’s Royal Rumble match.

Just when it seemed like Hendry had done all he could do, he reached another mountain top; he was the mystery opponent for Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41, becoming the first champion from a non-WWE company to appear at its grand event in 27 years.

Not a bad year for a guy critics believed would be a one-hit wonder. Instead, the world has found out what happens if you say his name; he not only appears, he makes history.

“I’ve been fortunate to be part of so many things that would have seemed previously impossible,” Hendry told USA TODAY Sports. “I feel like we’re really doing something unprecedented and breaking new ground.”

It wasn’t a surprise Hendry was in Las Vegas for WrestleMania weekend, since TNA held Unbreakable 2025 in the city and he was going to make appearances at WrestleCon. But he didn’t anticipate his weekend ending with him performing at WWE’s flagship event.

A week before WrestleMania 41, Hendry got a call from WWE chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. He figured it was going to be about doing a promo somewhere, but was completely thrown off when Levesque brought up that Orton didn’t have an opponent for the event due to Kevin Owens’ injury. The decision was for Hendry to take the spot.

Hendry was an initially shocked. Orton was someone he loved watching when he was starting his wrestling career. Now there was a chance to have a match with him? He couldn’t turn down something he didn’t think could happen even in his wildest dreams.

“I immediately said yes to the opportunity, and then it just became about understanding there’s a job to be done, and I will do the job to the best of my ability,” he said. 

It could have been nerve-wracking for Hendry, stepping up to the plate in a grand event like WrestleMania. But Levesque’s trust in Hendry to take the honor gave him confidence and faith in himself.

There was plenty of speculation as to who Orton would face, but Hendry wasn’t really a name being considered — even though he was the surprise at the Royal Rumble.

That’s why when the doors finally opened on the WrestleMania stage, that sweet melodic tune played and Hendry’s face was plastered on all of the jumbotrons inside Allegiant Stadium, the crowd and viewers around the world went into a frenzy.

When Hendry does his signature spin to reveal himself to the crowd, the first thing he always does is look around the venue and soak in the atmosphere. This was the biggest crowd he’d performed in front of, with more than 60,000 people in the stadium. He was overwhelmed by the rousing support and thousands singing “I Believe in Joe Hendry.”

“It felt like a literal, physical wave of energy that was pushing against me,” he said. “I’ll never forget that feeling. It was like a wave of energy. It’s hard to put into words what that felt like, making that walk down the ramp. It took me probably about 30 seconds to a minute to just calibrate.”

After that shock, Hendry still had the job of competing in the match. He got some shots in against the future WWE Hall of Famer, but Orton had little trouble. He pulled out his vintage move set, and when Hendry did his spin toward the camera in the ring, “The Viper” pulled off one of the top moments of the weekend with an RKO out of nowhere. 

Orton got the victory, and after the match he gave Hendry his flowers for stepping up to the plate. But in true Orton fashion, he surprised him with another RKO before he did his own version of Hendry’s spin.

There have been varying opinions on the match. Some praised Hendry for stepping up and the entertainment it provided, but others thought the match was unnecessary, took away from the event and made Hendry look weak as TNA’s top guy.

Hendry said he just wanted to do “the absolute best job” he could in his role and he felt like he delivered.

“The RKO from out of shot was just one of the iconic moments from that weekend. That’s what I wanted to achieve, was to have people talk and have some excitement,” he said. “ I was really proud of that.”

Even though he had a WrestleMania match, the thing that stood out from the weekend for Hendry was the respect he felt from the big names in the business. Orton applauded him, he spoke with Stephanie McMahon and he was able to have a conversation with John Cena, someone that was influential to him becoming a wrestler. Cena shared words of advice with Hendry after the Royal Rumble. 

Cena noted that Hendry followed the exact advice he gave him in February, and turned it into a brilliant performance. He also told Hendry he believes Hendry is “going to be a major player in the industry.”

Levesque was a little more direct with his vision of Hendy’s future, picturing more WrestleMania appearances for “The Prestigious One.” 

“He’s got a bright future, and I was really, really happy that we could put him in this spot and showcase him for everybody, on a bigger platform in the world,” Levesque said at the WrestleMania 41 press conference. “I told him right before he walked out, I said, ‘You will be here again, so enjoy this one, because the pressure gets heavy from here, this will be the easiest WrestleMania you ever do, and you will do more.’’

Safe to say there are plenty of people who believe in Hendry.

What’s next for Joe Hendry?

As the top champion in TNA, there’s a heavy responsibility to represent the company. For Hendry, his plan of bringing the prestige up is working, capitalizing on the partnership it has with WWE. WrestleMania was just another way to help bring more attention to his home.

“This title reign is about big business, and it’s bringing eyeballs and building TNA wrestling,” Hendry said. “I’ve seen the indicators of what that performance will do for TNA Wrestling. So I know that it was the right thing to do.

“The sky’s the limit regarding the growth of TNA Wrestling.”

There’s no limit to Hendry’s aspirations, either. It’s almost as if he knew his moment in Las Vegas would come. After the Royal Rumble, he told friends he thought he could do WrestleMania. Months later, it came to fruition.

Hendry has done more things in one year than most wrestlers do in their entire career. But he isn’t satisfied with just one shining moment. He’s already on to the next thing, including appearing in NXT more and possibly facing Trick Williams.

There’s also a bigger goal he has his sights on. He wouldn’t divulge what it is – because what’s the fun in that? – but it appears to be something even bigger than WrestleMania, if that’s possible.

“I have a ridiculous goal in my mind right now, and I won’t say what it is,” he said. “I think it’s gonna happen. I think I’m gonna get the thing that I’m fighting for.”

It’s anyone’s guess as to what it could be, but one thing does come to mind: Hendry has been vocal about wanting to face Cena. It could certainly be a match against the 17-time WWE Champion in his final year of wrestling.

So don’t think the best of Hendry has happened. As far as he’s concerned, the standing ovation has only just begun.