Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Debut, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
In the latest updates from the WWE universe, several intriguing developments have caught fans’ attention, spotlighting Roman Reigns’ reflections on his WrestleMania 40 experiences, boxing star Tommy Fury’s potential WWE career, and the recent absence of NXT standout Oba Femi from programming.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
During an insightful interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about the main event of WrestleMania 40 and the possibilities of a future showdown with his cousin, The Rock. Initially, WWE teased a match between Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania, but ultimately, Reigns faced Cody Rhodes after Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble.
When asked whether he was disappointed not to face The Rock, dubbed “The Original Tribal Chief” acknowledged it didn’t matter to him who was his opponent, as long as he was in the main event spotlight. “I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “They are trying to stop history from happening… it was the same task in hand for me.”
The Rock and Reigns later teamed up at WrestleMania 40 Night 1 to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, with Rhodes winning the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. The Rock also underwent a character shift, turning heel as “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns.
Looking forward, Reigns hinted a future match with The Rock is possible if the WWE fanbase desires it loudly enough. “We want to satisfy those people,” Reigns explained. “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 unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood PPV last month but has since remained out of the spotlight. With Survivor Series approaching, featuring a WarGames match involving members of The Bloodline, fans may see The Rock returning to potentially build toward a high-profile match with Roman Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Teases Future WWE Plans
Adding to the buzz, Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, shared on YouTube his backstage experience at a recent WWE UK tour event. During the video, Fury expressed appreciation for WWE superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and hinted at his interest in stepping into the wrestling world one day.
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete,” he said. “Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy Fury’s connection to WWE is notable, given Tyson Fury’s previous WWE involvement—most famously his 2019 Crown Jewel match against Braun Strowman and his intervention at 2022’s Clash at the Castle event. Tommy’s unbeaten boxing record and rivalry ties with the Paul brothers, who have also ventured into WWE, position him as a potential crossover star and intriguing future opponent or ally.
Oba Femi Absent from NXT Programming
Meanwhile, NXT fans have noticed that former North American Champion Oba Femi has not appeared on NXT tapings since his October 27 loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc. According to Fightful Select, there has been no indication of Femi being backstage at recent NXT events, though no official reasons have been provided.
Since his April 2023 televised debut, Femi had an impressive run—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American Championship by cashing in on Dragon Lee, and holding the title for a record 272 days. However, his streak ended with consecutive losses to D’Angelo, which may explain a need for a reset or retooling.
Speculation surrounds whether Femi’s absence is due to injury, a main roster call-up, or a creative decision to keep him off television temporarily. Regardless, he remains a top candidate for future title pursuits within NXT and could be a prime contender to challenge current NXT Champion Trick Williams upon his return.
WWE fans can stay tuned for more developments as these storylines continue to evolve, with dynamic shifts expected both in the ring and behind the scenes.
For more detailed coverage and the latest wrestling news, listen to Ring Rust Radio and follow WWE reports from Bleacher Report.