Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
In a recent media spotlight, WWE’s reigning superstar Roman Reigns shared candid thoughts about his encounters with The Rock and Cody Rhodes during WrestleMania 40, while emerging boxing sensation Tommy Fury hinted at potential involvement with WWE, and NXT star Oba Femi’s unexpected absence fueled backstage rumors.
Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents: The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
During an insightful episode of the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina on Tuesday, Roman Reigns opened up about the shifting dynamics surrounding the WrestleMania 40 main event. Reigns was asked whether he felt disappointed facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock, a match highly anticipated by WWE fans.
Reigns emphasized his focus was not on the opponent but on retaining his position in the main event spotlight. “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “They’re trying to stop history from happening, trying to take us off the pinnacle. It was the same task regardless of the person.”
The storyline leading into WrestleMania showcased tension as Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This opened speculation that The Rock would return to challenge Reigns. However, after fans voiced displeasure with the switch, Rhodes reversed his stance. This narrative twist culminated with The Rock turning heel, branding himself “The Final Boss” and forming an alliance with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in Friday night’s main event at WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes exacted revenge by capturing the WWE title from Reigns in the Saturday night main event.
Looking ahead, Reigns hinted at the possibility of a future clash with The Rock if the fans demand it. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he stated. The Rock made a surprise WWE return in April at the Bad Blood event but has remained absent since, making the upcoming Survivor Series WarGames match—with the new and original Bloodline squads facing off—a promising occasion for a potential Rock appearance and storyline development.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Aspirations Following UK WWE Tour Backstage Visit
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of former heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury, has been making waves beyond the boxing ring. Following a recent night backstage at a WWE event during the company’s UK tour, Fury shared on YouTube his experience mingling with WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Expressing appreciation for the WWE culture and the wrestlers’ camaraderie, Fury hinted at the possibility of stepping into the squared circle one day: “I look forward to possibly climbing through the ropes one day. Who knows?” This would not be the first time a Fury brother paired with WWE; Tyson Fury previously competed at Crown Jewel 2019, securing a count-out win over Braun Strowman. Tommy’s undefeated 10-0 boxing record and notable victory over Jake Paul add to his appeal, and a potential WWE storyline involving the Fury brothers versus the Paul brothers — with Logan Paul active in WWE — could captivate mainstream and wrestling audiences alike.
Oba Femi’s Quiet Stint Fuels Questions on His NXT Status
In other NXT news, former North American Champion Oba Femi has not appeared on WWE’s NXT television programs or backstage since late October. According to reports from Fightful Select and insights shared by Ringside News, Femi has been absent since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reasons behind Femi’s unexplained gap remain unclear. Sources speculate it might be a strategic hiatus after suffering back-to-back defeats or possibly an unreported injury. Since debuting in April 2023, Femi quickly established himself by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and claiming the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee. His reign lasted a record 272 days before ending with the loss to D’Angelo.
Should Femi return refreshed, he is seen as a prime contender to chase the NXT Championship, possibly challenging the current titleholder Trick Williams. Whether this absence signifies an impending promotion to WWE’s main roster, a storyline reset, or something else remains to be seen.
Stay tuned for ongoing updates from WWE and the wider wrestling world as these stories develop.
Listen to the latest wrestling discussions by tuning into Ring Rust Radio for in-depth analysis of current WWE topics and more.