Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Considers WWE; NXT Rumors Surround Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 28, 2024
Bleacher Report provides the latest updates from the WWE universe, covering Roman Reigns’ recent interview insights, Tommy Fury’s potential wrestling future, and the current status of NXT’s Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and WrestleMania 40
In a recent appearance on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event opponents — The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns revealed that he was unfazed by WWE’s backstage indecision between having him face The Rock or Rhodes for the WWE Championship at the marquee event. He emphasized that the identity of his challenger was secondary to his main goal of defending his title.
"It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I am the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out. It’s where, we just need to get there and defend this thing. It didn’t matter who it is. They are trying to stop history from happening."
Originally, after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, he declined to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40, paving the way for The Rock’s return. However, due to mixed fan reactions to this booking, Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock turned heel, becoming “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, Reigns and The Rock teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, but Rhodes ultimately won the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. When asked about a potential future singles match against The Rock, Reigns indicated that fan support would be key.
"I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, we’re a company who—we’re not being dictated to. […] If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
Although The Rock briefly returned at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month, he has not formally announced his intentions, leaving open the possibility of a renewed rivalry with his cousin Reigns — especially with a WarGames match involving The Bloodline scheduled for Survivor Series.
Tommy Fury Expresses Interest in WWE Future
British professional boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at a potential move into professional wrestling with WWE. Fury, the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, recently shared a YouTube video showcasing his backstage visit during WWE’s UK tour, where he met stars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In the video, Tommy Fury expressed gratitude and excitement about the experience:
"Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night."
Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated boxing record and holds the distinction of being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul, a fellow figure who has crossed over into wrestling. His relationship to the Paul family and his boxing pedigree might position him well for a future WWE career, possibly setting up matches involving Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar.
Adding to the intrigue, Tyson Fury previously competed in WWE, defeating Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and making a memorable impact at 2022’s Clash at the Castle event.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Sparks Speculation
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings over the last month, sparking industry speculation.
Following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has not been spotted backstage or on NXT programming. According to Fightful Select, there has been no indication of injury or any official storyline reason for his absence.
Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi made an immediate impact by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. He held the title for a record 272 days before dropping it to D’Angelo and subsequently losing a rematch.
WWE officials might be giving Femi time to regroup after these setbacks, and he remains a strong candidate to contend for the NXT Championship, potentially positioning him against current champion Trick Williams upon return.
For more detailed discussions on WWE rumors and wrestling topics, listen to Ring Rust Radio and stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all your wrestling news.
Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)