Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Update on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari – Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest insights and developments from the WWE Universe, featuring exclusive comments from Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, boxing star Tommy Fury’s interest in wrestling, and intriguing news from WWE NXT regarding Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40: Facing Cody Rhodes, Potential Clash 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 much-anticipated WrestleMania 40 main event that saw him face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock, as many fans initially expected.
Asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns remarked that it didn’t matter who stood across the ring from him—as long as he was in the main event spotlight. He said, “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.”
Following Rhodes’ win in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, he initially announced he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This opened the door for The Rock to reportedly step in as a contender. After some fan backlash against this switch, Rhodes reversed course, leading to The Rock turning heel and aligning himself with Reigns as “The Final Boss.”
At WrestleMania 40, the two cousins, The Rock and Reigns, teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1. However, the climactic match on Night 2 saw Rhodes defeat Reigns to claim the WWE title.
When asked about the possibility of a future one-on-one match with The Rock, Reigns expressed openness, provided the fanbase vocally supports it: “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 a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month, though his intentions remain unclear. With a high-profile WarGames match involving Bloodline factions set for Survivor Series, speculation grows about The Rock’s potential reappearance to ignite a future showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has sparked excitement among wrestling fans by teasing a possible future in WWE. In a recent YouTube video posted during WWE’s UK tour, Tommy shared clips of himself backstage meeting WWE stars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He commented on the experience: “All the wrestlers showing love. Big up to Randy Orton, absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them. Thank you to WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury maintains an undefeated professional boxing record and is noted for being the only fighter to defeat internet personality Jake Paul. Given his ties to the Paul family and WWE’s history of crossover appeal, a future boxing vs. wrestling rivalry or even a tag team involving both the Fury and Paul brothers could be a major draw.
NXT Update: Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Sparks Speculation
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been noticeably absent from NXT tapings following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. According to Fightful Select, there have been no reports of Femi backstage in recent weeks.
After his televised debut in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. His record 272-day reign ended in a surprise defeat to D’Angelo, followed by a loss in the rematch at Halloween Havoc.
Femi’s absence could be a strategic break to regroup after two consecutive defeats or might hint at a planned call-up to WWE’s main roster. Alternatively, it might be linked to injury or creative decisions to let his recent losses settle with the audience. Upon his return, Femi remains a strong contender to pursue the NXT Championship, potentially as a challenger to Trick Williams.
Final Thoughts
The WWE landscape continues to evolve with major names like Roman Reigns and The Rock holding fans’ attention while newcomers and crossover stars like Tommy Fury eye the squared circle. Meanwhile, NXT remains a breeding ground for emerging talent, with figures like Oba Femi positioned for future prominence. Keep following Bleacher Report for more in-depth wrestling news and analysis.
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Listen to Ring Rust Radio for heated discussions on all things WWE and pro wrestling.
Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns share a moment celebrating their WrestleMania 40 Night 1 victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia (WWE/Getty Images)