Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
By Mike Chiari – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, covering insights from Roman Reigns about WrestleMania 40, rising boxer Tommy Fury expressing interest in WWE, and rumors surrounding the absence of former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 and Potential Match with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts regarding the main event scene at WrestleMania 40 and his experiences facing both Cody Rhodes and The Rock.
Reigns was candid when asked if he felt disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the WrestleMania 40 main event. The “Original Tribal Chief” emphasized that his primary concern was holding the main event spot and defending his title, regardless of the opponent.
"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. They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me."
The path to WrestleMania 40 saw twists, with Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 Royal Rumble but initially stating he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, prompting speculation The Rock would step into that role. After fan backlash led to a change of plans, The Rock turned heel, adopting the moniker "The Final Boss" and teaming with Reigns to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 at WrestleMania. Cody then reclaimed the WWE Championship from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Addressing the possibility of a future match against The Rock, Reigns said it depends on fan demand:
"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. We have a vision for where we’re trying to go, but we know who the consumers are. We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people."
He added, “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 WWE return at the recent Bad Blood event but has not yet revealed his future plans in the company. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring new and original iterations of The Bloodline, speculation suggests this may be an ideal moment for The Rock to return and possibly ignite a rivalry with Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Aspirations
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, known for his undefeated 10-0 boxing record and victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, has hinted at exploring a career in professional wrestling with WWE.
During WWE’s UK tour, Fury shared a YouTube video capturing behind-the-scenes moments with WWE Superstars and expressed an openness to entering the wrestling world:
"So guys, that is a night at the 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 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 is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, the former world heavyweight boxing champ who had a brief WWE appearance at Crown Jewel 2019 and was notably involved in WWE programming moments like the 2022 Clash at the Castle in Wales.
Given Tommy’s connections and crossover appeal — particularly with the Paul brothers through prior boxing matches — there is potential for engaging storylines involving him and WWE’s Logan Paul, possibly setting the stage for high-profile matches that merge boxing and wrestling fandom.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Reports have emerged that Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been absent from WWE’s NXT tapings and programming for over a month.
According to Fightful Select, Femi was last seen in action at NXT’s Halloween Havoc event on October 27, where he lost in a rematch to Tony D’Angelo, ending a record-setting 272-day reign as North American Champion. Since then, there has been no backstage presence or television appearances involving Femi.
While the official reason for his absence remains unknown, possibilities include taking time to recover from injury, a creative reset following consecutive losses, or preparation for a main roster call-up. Femi’s dominant rise since his debut in April 2023 — winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and seizing the North American title from Dragon Lee — positions him as a strong candidate to eventually contend for the NXT Championship upon his return.
In Summary
Roman Reigns remains focused on his legacy and open to future matches with The Rock if driven by fan enthusiasm, while Tommy Fury demonstrates increasing interest in pursuing wrestling opportunities with WWE. Meanwhile, Oba Femi’s recent absence from NXT programming prompts curiosity about his next career steps inside WWE.
Stay tuned as the WWE Universe continues to evolve with these compelling storylines and potential new rivalries.