Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi Absent From NXT
By Mike Chiari — November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including insight from Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, boxing star Tommy Fury’s WWE aspirations, and rumors surrounding NXT’s Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Potential Match With The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the evolving main event of WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock. The decision reportedly bounced back and forth backstage, sparking fan speculation.
Reigns explained that he remained unfazed by who his opponent was, as long as he was headlining the event.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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,” Reigns said.
Initially, after winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, Rhodes declined to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania, pointing fans toward The Rock. But following fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his stance; this led to The Rock turning heel—adopting the moniker “The Final Boss”—and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. The following night, Rhodes defeated Reigns to claim the WWE Championship.
When asked about the possibility of a future Reigns vs. The Rock match, Reigns was optimistic but clear that fan interest plays a crucial role.
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” Reigns noted.
The Rock made an unannounced return at the WWE event Bad Blood last month but has not publicly stated his future plans since. With the ongoing storyline involving different Bloodline factions set to culminate at Survivor Series in a WarGames match, The Rock’s potential involvement and a future showdown with Reigns remain intriguing possibilities.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions After UK Tour Backstage Visit
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a potential future in WWE. Sharing a video of himself backstage during WWE’s recent UK tour, Tommy praised stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther while expressing admiration for the company.
“I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night,” said Fury.
Tommy Fury currently boasts an undefeated 10-0 boxing record and is notably the only fighter to have defeated social media personality Jake Paul. His brother Tyson briefly crossed into WWE in 2019 with a single match and made headlines at WWE Clash at the Castle in 2022 with a well-publicized knockout of Austin Theory in the audience.
Given Tommy Fury’s connections to the Paul family and WWE’s history of crossover celebrities, a wrestling rivalry or tag match with Logan Paul could be a draw for broader audiences.
Oba Femi’s Absence From NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has not been seen on NXT television or backstage for more than a month, according to Fightful Select. His last appearance was at Halloween Havoc on October 27, where he lost a rematch to Tony D’Angelo, who ended Femi’s reign at a record 272 days.
Femi’s absence is currently unexplained. It could represent a temporary hiatus to recover from losses or possibly an injury break.
Since debuting on NXT in April 2023, Femi made a strong impact by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title in a cash-in against Dragon Lee. Now, WWE creative might be strategizing his return as a contender for the NXT Championship, potentially setting up a high-profile program against current titleholder Trick Williams.
For more detailed wrestling news and discussions, listen to Ring Rust Radio and keep up with Bleacher Report for all your WWE updates.
Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (WWE/Getty Images)