Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Interest; NXT Updates on Oba Femi
In the latest WWE news roundup, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the high-profile WrestleMania 40 main event involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, boxing star Tommy Fury appears to be exploring opportunities with WWE, and recent reports reveal that former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT programming.
Roman Reigns Opens Up on WrestleMania 40 and Prospective Rock Match
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, providing insights into his mindset during the lead-up to WrestleMania 40. When asked about WWE’s shifting plans between a potential WrestleMania showdown against his cousin, The Rock, or Cody Rhodes, Reigns was clear that the opponent did not affect his focus.
Reigns stated, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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.” He emphasized that regardless of who he faces, his goal remains defending his position at the top.
The build-up to WrestleMania 40 saw some dramatic changes. After Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he originally indicated he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, leaving The Rock as the expected challenger. However, following a mixed fan reaction to this switch, Rhodes reversed course, which led to The Rock turning heel, adopting the persona “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Roman teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes captured the WWE Championship from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Looking ahead, Traina asked Reigns about the possibility of a future match with The Rock. Reigns responded optimistically, citing fan enthusiasm as a key factor: “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 an unexpected return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month, though his plans remain unclear. With a WarGames match featuring different versions of The Bloodline set for Survivor Series, there is speculation that The Rock could re-emerge and potentially reignite the rivalry with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE Career
In a surprising crossover development, British boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at a possible transition to professional wrestling with WWE. Fury posted a YouTube video detailing a night backstage during WWE’s recent UK tour, where he interacted with top WWE stars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love… I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” Fury said, indicating an openness to exploring wrestling.
Tommy Fury, undefeated in his professional boxing career and known for defeating Jake Paul, is the younger brother of Tyson Fury—who briefly dabbled in WWE himself with a match at Crown Jewel 2019 and a notable interference at Clash at the Castle 2022. Given Tommy’s boxing background and family ties, a WWE debut could open exciting new storylines, particularly involving the high-profile Paul brothers, such as Logan Paul.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly not been seen at NXT tapings in recent weeks, per Fightful Select. Since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has been missing from television.
Femi burst onto the scene with a dominant run after debuting on NXT TV in April 2023. He won the NXT Breakout Tournament and captured the North American Championship in his first title win. However, he suffered his first televised losses last month, dropping and subsequently failing to regain the title from D’Angelo.
The cause for Femi’s absence remains unclear. It could be for injury reasons, a break to reset after consecutive losses, or preparation for a possible main roster promotion. Alternatively, NXT officials may be pacing his return to rebuild momentum. Once back, Femi remains a strong candidate to contend for the NXT Championship, potentially challenging current titleholder Trick Williams.
For fans wanting to keep up with all the latest wrestling developments, the episode of Ring Rust Radio offers deeper dives into these topics and more.
Stay tuned for more updates from WWE and the wrestling world.