Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Expresses WWE Interest; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
The WWE Universe has been abuzz with recent developments involving some of its top talents, as Roman Reigns opens up about his WrestleMania 40 main event, boxer Tommy Fury hints at a potential WWE career, and NXT star Oba Femi’s absence raises questions. Here’s a comprehensive update on these stories.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and The Rock Match Possibility
During a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on facing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 instead of The Rock, and the possibility of a future match with his famed cousin.
Reigns was asked if he was disappointed that Rhodes, rather than The Rock, was his opponent in the WrestleMania 40 main event. He responded that it did not matter to him who he faced as long as he was main eventing, calling himself “the guy that everyone wanted to dance with” and emphasizing his role as the champion everyone was trying to stop.
After Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, there was initially talk of The Rock challenging Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. However, fan backlash over this switch led to Rhodes reversing his stance, which resulted in The Rock turning heel and aligning himself with Reigns as The Final Boss. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, Reigns and The Rock teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, only for Rhodes to capture the WWE title from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Looking ahead, when asked about the potential for a long-anticipated showdown between himself and The Rock, Reigns expressed optimism that if fans show enough passion and support, WWE management would consider making the match happen. He stated, “We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people. If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock made a surprise return at the recent Bad Blood event but has yet to outline his intentions or make another appearance. With the upcoming Survivor Series featuring a WarGames match involving different Bloodline factions, speculation is rife that The Rock may reemerge soon to possibly build toward a family showdown inside WWE.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in Joining WWE
Younger brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, Tommy Fury, hinted at a possible move into professional wrestling with WWE. In a recent YouTube video filmed backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury praised several WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and conveyed gratitude toward WWE for their hospitality.
He remarked, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.” Currently with a professional boxing record of 10-0 and known as the only person to defeat Jake Paul in the ring, Tommy Fury has made a name for himself independently.
Given Tommy’s connection to the Paul family — especially Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar and former U.S. Champion — there is fan interest in a potential wrestling storyline involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers, which could broaden WWE’s mainstream appeal.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Raises Questions
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT television and backstage tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at October 27’s Halloween Havoc event, according to Fightful Select.
Femi, who made his televised NXT debut in April 2023, quickly rose through the ranks by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record-breaking 272 days before being ended by D’Angelo, who then defeated Femi again in a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
While the reasons for Femi’s recent absence remain unclear, speculation ranges from a possible injury to a planned main roster call-up or a creative decision to let the heat from his recent losses cool off. When he returns, Femi is expected to be a strong contender for the NXT Championship and could be positioned as a top challenger to current champion Trick Williams.
Stay tuned for more WWE updates as these stories continue to develop within the dynamic world of professional wrestling.