Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Rumors Surround Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns, aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury about WWE, and speculation around NXT star Oba Femi’s absence.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Possible Future Match with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE superstar Roman Reigns opened up about the booking dynamics for WrestleMania 40’s main event and shared his perspective on facing either The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns was unbothered, emphasizing the importance of being in the main event 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… They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me,” said Reigns (via Ringside News).
The build-up to WrestleMania 40 saw some uncertainty after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, leading fans to anticipate a Reigns vs. The Rock showdown. However, after fan backlash, Rhodes shifted gears, and The Rock turned heel—adopting the moniker "The Final Boss" and aligning with Reigns.
The Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the Night 1 main event, while Rhodes captured the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns in the Night 2 highlight.
Discussing the prospects of a future Reigns vs. The Rock match, Roman indicated the possibility is real, driven by fan interest and support. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he noted.
The Rock surprised fans with an unannounced WWE return at Bad Blood last month but has yet to clarify his intentions or return since. With the looming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring both original and new Bloodline factions, The Rock’s potential reappearance could spark momentum toward a long-awaited clash with his cousin, Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE Career
In another intriguing development, professional boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a possible future in WWE. Via a YouTube video posted recently, Fury shared his backstage experience during WWE’s UK tour, where he met several Superstars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Fury expressed gratitude toward WWE and teased the idea of climbing through the ropes someday, stating, "And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night."
At 25, Tommy Fury is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, the former world heavyweight boxing champion who previously appeared in WWE, most notably at Crown Jewel 2019 and making waves at Clash at the Castle 2022. Tommy holds a perfect professional record of 10-0 and is notable for being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul. Given his connections to the Paul family, there is speculation that Tommy Fury could become a compelling rival for Logan Paul, who is a WWE Superstar and former United States champion. Tag team matchups featuring the Fury brothers versus the Paul brothers could also attract mainstream attention and broader wrestling audiences.
NXT Star Oba Femi Reportedly Absent After Recent Losses
Meanwhile, fans have noticed the absence of former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi from television and NXT tapings for over a month. Fightful Select reports that since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has not been seen backstage or on episodes.
Femi’s reasons for absence remain unclear—it could be a strategic break after back-to-back losses or perhaps an injury or main roster call-up in the works.
Since debuting in April 2023, the former University of Alabama shot putter enjoyed a dominant rise, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. His title reign ended at a record 272 days with an upset loss to D’Angelo.
NXT creative may be holding Femi off TV to allow for storyline recalibration. Upon his return, he is viewed as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, potentially positioned to dethrone current titleholder Trick Williams.
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Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock look on after teaming to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 on April 6, 2024 (WWE/Getty Images).