Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyeing WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe is buzzing with fresh updates as Roman Reigns opens up about his WrestleMania 40 opponents, boxer Tommy Fury hints at a future in wrestling, and NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence fuels speculation. Here’s the latest from the world of professional wrestling.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently spoke candidly about his experience leading up to and during WrestleMania 40, particularly regarding the main event dynamics involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes. In an interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Reigns addressed the shifting plans of WWE’s marquee matchup.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock in the main event, Reigns emphasized that it did not matter who he faced as long as he was in the spotlight. “I was the main event. I’m the guy everyone wanted to dance with… They’re trying to stop history from happening,” Reigns said, highlighting the pressure and expectation placed on him to defend his championship.
The WrestleMania 40 main events had been the subject of fan scrutiny after Rhodes initially declined to challenge Reigns despite winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble. This created a potential matchup with The Rock, who, after turning heel and becoming “The Final Boss,” aligned with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, while Rhodes claimed the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Addressing questions about a possible future match with The Rock, Reigns suggested it remains on the table if fans show enough enthusiasm: “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
Notably, The Rock made a surprise WWE return last month at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his future intentions. With the Bloodline’s storyline continuing at Survivor Series, some anticipate this could be a turning point for The Rock to step into the spotlight again and perhaps rekindle a showdown with his cousin Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential WWE Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, known for his undefeated professional record and his victory over prominent YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, recently suggested he might explore a career in WWE. Posting a backstage video from a recent WWE UK tour, Fury praised WWE superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and expressed openness to the idea of stepping into the wrestling ring.
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete… And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” Fury said.
At 25, Tommy follows in the footsteps of his older brother, Tyson Fury — a former heavyweight boxing champion who appeared in WWE back in 2019 and remained connected to the company with notable moments like interrupting Austin Theory at Clash at the Castle 2022. Given Tommy Fury’s ties to the Paul family and WWE’s recent interest in crossover stars, there is speculation he could make a compelling opponent or tag team partner opposite Logan Paul. Such a match-up could attract wider attention, bridging boxing, YouTube, and wrestling fanbases alike.
Oba Femi’s Recent Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not appeared on NXT programming for about a month, raising questions about his status within the company.
Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been backstage at recent NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The 24-year-old former University of Alabama shot put star captured attention with his dominant rise — winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and holding the North American title for a record 272 days.
However, after dropping the championship and a subsequent rematch to D’Angelo, Femi has been notably absent, which could indicate a variety of scenarios: a potential main roster call-up, an injury hiatus, or a storyline reset.
When he returns, many project that Femi may contend for the NXT Championship, possibly positioning him as a strong challenger to current titleholder Trick Williams.
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Watch the full SI Media interview with Roman Reigns and listen to Ring Rust Radio for deeper insights into current wrestling topics.
Photo caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock after their WrestleMania 40 victory against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, Philadelphia, April 6, 2024 (Photo by WWE/Getty Images).