Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock & Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career, and NXT Updates on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe has seen plenty of developments lately, from major WrestleMania moments to fresh rumors about prospects and established stars alike. Bleacher Report brings you the latest scoop, including Roman Reigns’ insights on key matches, boxer Tommy Fury expressing interest in WWE, and updates surrounding NXT standout Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 and The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently sat down for an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, sharing his perspective on the main event card shuffle at WrestleMania 40. Reigns was originally rumored to face either The Rock or Cody Rhodes in the main event, sparking intense fan speculation and excitement.
When asked if he felt disappointed about facing Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns made it clear that the opponent didn’t matter as much as being in the spotlight as the main eventer:
"It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I am the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out… It was the same task in hand for me," Reigns said.
The storyline took some twists after Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, leading to expectations that The Rock would step in. However, after negative fan reactions to the change, Rhodes reversed his stance. This led to a surprising heel turn for The Rock, who became "The Final Boss" aligning himself with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, with Rhodes capturing the WWE title from Reigns in the main event of Night 2. When Traina probed about the potential for a future match between Reigns and The Rock, Reigns suggested that a showdown remains possible 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."
The Rock made an unannounced WWE appearance last month at Bad Blood but has since remained out of the spotlight. With major events like Survivor Series showcasing the battle between new and original Bloodline factions, expectations for The Rock returning and possibly reigniting his rivalry with his cousin Reigns are growing.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
Boxer Tommy Fury, brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, teased a potential future in WWE this past week. Sharing a video on YouTube from backstage at a WWE event during the company’s recent UK tour, Fury expressed his enthusiasm for the wrestling industry and appreciation for WWE talent.
Fury gave shout-outs to WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and thanked WWE for their hospitality. He added:
"I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night."
Tommy Fury remains undefeated in his boxing career and is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. Given his connections in the boxing and entertainment worlds, WWE could see a lucrative future storyline involving Tommy—possibly against Logan Paul, the current WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. A potential tag team featuring the Paul brothers versus the Fury brothers could generate mainstream interest.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Recent reports from Fightful Select indicate that former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen around NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at the Halloween Havoc event on October 27. The reason for Femi’s absence is unknown at the moment.
Femi enjoyed a stellar rise after debuting on NXT television in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted an impressive 272 days, a record length for the belt.
However, Femi suffered two back-to-back losses to Tony D’Angelo—first dropping the title and then losing in a rematch at Halloween Havoc. Since then, he has not appeared on NXT programming.
Fans and insiders speculate that Femi’s time away could be for recovery, to reset following his recent setbacks, or possibly in preparation for a main roster call-up. He remains highly regarded as a future NXT Championship contender once he returns.
Looking Ahead
With WrestleMania 40 and Survivor Series recently concluded, WWE continues to build storylines that captivate fans worldwide. Roman Reigns remains at the forefront of the company’s narrative, while new names like Tommy Fury tantalize with the possibility of high-profile additions to the roster. Meanwhile, NXT’s landscape shifts as stars like Oba Femi take time off before potentially making new impacts.
Stay tuned for further updates as these stories develop in the ever-evolving WWE Universe.