Roman Reigns Talks The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report provides fans with the latest updates and insights from the WWE Universe, covering significant developments involving top talents such as Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury, and Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Matchups and Possible Future Clash with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s dominant figure Roman Reigns opened up about his experiences surrounding WrestleMania 40 and his thoughts on facing both Cody Rhodes and The Rock.
When asked about his reaction to facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the main event at WrestleMania 40, Reigns emphasized that the main event status was what mattered most to him. He stated, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It was the same task in hand for me." He further explained that his role was to defend his championship and maintain his position at the pinnacle, regardless of the challenger.
Originally, after Cody Rhodes’ victory in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match, it appeared The Rock would be the one to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania. Fan backlash led to Rhodes reversing his initial decision not to challenge Reigns, culminating in The Rock turning heel and aligning with Reigns as "The Final Boss." Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, with Rhodes reclaiming the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding the much-anticipated match between Reigns and The Rock that did not take place at WrestleMania, Reigns indicated the possibility remains open. He remarked, “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen," signaling that fan demand could drive the company to arrange the iconic bout.
The Rock recently made a surprise appearance at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has yet to reveal his intentions in WWE moving forward. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring members of The Bloodline, speculation is rife that The Rock could return to help set the stage for a future confrontation with his cousin.
Tommy Fury Suggests Interest in WWE Career
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a potential future in professional wrestling with WWE.
During WWE’s recent United Kingdom tour, Fury was seen backstage interacting with WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, among others. Posting a video on YouTube, Tommy expressed his appreciation for the WWE and teased the possibility of stepping into the wrestling ring himself.
“This has been a great night… and I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” Fury said, sparking excitement among wrestling fans.
Given Tommy’s undefeated record in boxing and his notable victory over Jake Paul, alongside the historical crossover involvement of his brother Tyson Fury with WWE — who famously defeated Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019 — the younger Fury holds strong potential to make a name for himself in the wrestling world. A possible rivalry or alliance involving the Fury and Paul families could also appeal to a broad mainstream audience and WWE.
Oba Femi Absent from NXT Following Recent Losses
NXT fans have noticed the absence of former North American Champion Oba Femi from recent tapings, prompting rumors about the reason behind his time away.
According to reports by Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage at NXT since his loss to Tony D’Angelo in the Halloween Havoc event on October 27. The cause for his absence has not been clarified but could relate to allowing him time to reset after consecutive defeats.
Since debuting on television in April 2023, Oba Femi rapidly established himself as a formidable competitor. He won the NXT Breakout Tournament and successfully cashed in to capture the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a remarkable 272 days until D’Angelo ended it. Following his losses in the title rematch and subsequent appearances, Femi has been off NXT programming.
Speculation ranges from a possible injury, a main roster call-up in the near future, or creative choices to temporarily write him off TV to let the impact of his defeats settle. Upon his return, Femi is expected to be a strong contender for the NXT Championship and a plausible challenger to current champion Trick Williams.
For more in-depth coverage, analysis, and updates, stay tuned to Bleacher Report’s WWE section.
Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns after their victory against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia, April 6, 2024. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)