Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes, While Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with fresh updates involving some of the industry’s biggest names. From Roman Reigns’ reflections on his WrestleMania 40 bouts with Cody Rhodes and potential matches with The Rock, to boxing star Tommy Fury hinting at a future crossover into WWE, and recent speculation regarding former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi’s recent absence, here’s an in-depth look at the latest developments.
Roman Reigns Opens Up on WrestleMania 40 and Prospects of a Match With The Rock
In a candid interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock at WrestleMania 40. The conversation begins around the 31:45 mark of the interview.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns said it didn’t matter to him who his opponent was, as long as he was in the main event spotlight. “I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” he remarked, emphasizing that his focus was on defending his championship regardless of the challenger.
The lead-up to WrestleMania 40 was marked by uncertainty after Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE title, which led many to anticipate The Rock stepping into the main event role. However, fan reaction influenced a change of plans, with Rhodes choosing to pursue the title match, and The Rock turning heel as The Final Boss, aligning himself with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, followed by Rhodes winning the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding the potential for a future Reigns vs. Rock showdown, Reigns expressed openness to the idea, highlighting WWE’s responsiveness to fan demand. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” Reigns commented. The Rock made an unannounced return last month at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has yet to reveal further intentions. With the brand’s upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series involving new and original versions of The Bloodline, speculations grow about whether The Rock might return to build towards a future marquee matchup with his cousin.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Future After Backstage WWE Visit
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a possible future in professional wrestling with WWE. In a YouTube video posted Sunday, Fury was seen backstage during WWE’s recent UK tour, mingling with WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Fury shared his admiration for the WWE locker room and expressed enthusiasm about potentially stepping into the ring one day. “I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night,” he said.
Tommy Fury, undefeated at 10-0 in professional boxing and known as the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, carries a natural connection to WWE through his brother Tyson Fury’s past involvement. Tyson appeared at WWE events such as Crown Jewel 2019 and Clash at the Castle 2022, famously knocking out Austin Theory during a Money in the Bank cash-in attempt.
Given Tommy Fury’s relationship with the Paul family and his rising celebrity, he could be an intriguing fit for WWE storylines, possibly as an opponent to Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar and former United States champion. A tag team rivalry featuring the Fury and Paul brothers could appeal to a broader mainstream audience.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Fuels Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from the brand’s tapings and television shows over the past month, according to reports from Fightful Select. The last time he appeared on NXT was on October 27 at Halloween Havoc, where he suffered a loss to Tony D’Angelo, ending his historic 272-day title reign. He also fell short in a rematch with D’Angelo during the same event.
Femi’s absence remains unexplained. While injury concerns or a possible main roster promotion have been suggested, it may simply be a strategic move by NXT officials to allow Femi space after two significant defeats. Since debuting in April 2023, Femi enjoyed meteoric success, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee.
Upon his return, many anticipate Femi as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, potentially being positioned as the challenger who dethrones current champion Trick Williams.
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