Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock & Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Opportunity; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
In the world of professional wrestling, recent weeks have been abuzz with captivating developments. Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experiences, including his main event against Cody Rhodes and the possibility of a future showdown with The Rock. Meanwhile, boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a potential WWE career, and NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence has sparked rumors. Here’s a detailed look at the latest news from WWE and beyond.
Roman Reigns on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and WrestleMania 40 Main Event
During a candid interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s “Tribal Chief,” Roman Reigns, shared his thoughts on the main event scene at WrestleMania 40 and the dynamic involving his cousin The Rock and longtime rival Cody Rhodes.
Reigns revealed that he was unfazed by the backstage indecisiveness over whether he would face The Rock or Rhodes. For him, what mattered most was retaining the spotlight as the main event attraction. “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “They are trying to stop history from happening. They are trying to take us off the pinnacle, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
The storyline saw Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declining to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This led to speculation that The Rock would step in for the title match. However, fan backlash prompted Rhodes to reverse his decision, leading to The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and teaming with Reigns. Together, they defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the Night 1 main event. The following night, Rhodes reclaimed the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns.
When asked about a potential future matchup with The Rock, Reigns expressed openness, emphasizing the influence of the fans: “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.” The Rock’s unannounced return at the recent Bad Blood event, though brief, has fueled speculation that a clash between the two WWE powerhouses may still be on the horizon, possibly setting up for a future showdown at a major event like Survivor Series.
Tommy Fury Explores the Possibility of Joining WWE
In the crossover realm between boxing and wrestling, Tommy Fury—brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury—has shown interest in joining WWE. Posting a YouTube video from backstage during WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury expressed enthusiasm about learning from established WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Soooo guys, that is a night at WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love. Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them, Gunther, the lot of them. Thank you to WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night,” Fury shared.
Tommy Fury currently boasts an undefeated professional boxing record at 10-0 and is the only fighter to have beaten YouTube star Jake Paul. Given his ties to the Paul family and WWE’s willingness to blend mainstream personalities, Fury could become an intriguing addition to WWE’s roster—potentially setting up high-profile matches against Logan Paul, himself a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Fans of WWE’s developmental branch NXT have noticed the absence of Oba Femi following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Reports from Fightful Select indicate that Femi has not been seen backstage at recent NXT tapings, and there is no official word on the reason behind his hiatus.
Since debuting in NXT television in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks, capturing the NXT Breakout Tournament and cashing in to win the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His record-setting title reign lasted 272 days before losing to D’Angelo last month, followed by a rematch defeat at Halloween Havoc.
While some speculate that Femi could be recuperating from injury or preparing for a call-up to WWE’s main roster, others believe WWE is giving him time off to reset following two significant losses. Upon his return, Femi is widely seen as a strong candidate to challenge for the NXT Championship and possibly dethrone current titleholder Trick Williams.
What’s Next?
With WWE storylines and real-life developments evolving rapidly, fans have much to look forward to—from potential headline matches involving Roman Reigns and The Rock, the intriguing possibility of Tommy Fury stepping into the squared circle, to seeing how Oba Femi’s NXT journey unfolds after his recent absence.
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