Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Matchup, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT’s Oba Femi Absent Amid Speculation
Bleacher Report’s latest WWE update brings several intriguing storylines and insider developments from the wrestling world, involving top stars Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, boxer-turned-wrestling hopeful Tommy Fury, and NXT standout Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Discusses WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
In a recent interview on the Sports Illustrated (SI Media) podcast, WWE’s reigning superstar Roman Reigns opened up about the behind-the-scenes decision-making surrounding his WrestleMania 40 main event opponent. Initially, there was considerable buzz around a possible showdown between Reigns and WWE legend The Rock, his cousin and one of WWE’s most iconic figures. However, the eventual match was against Cody Rhodes.
Asked by host Jimmy Traina whether he felt disappointed not facing The Rock, Reigns was nonchalant, stating, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It didn’t matter who it is. They are trying to stop history from happening… so it was the same task in hand for me.” Reigns emphasized that his focus was on defending his championship and being at the top of the card.
The situation evolved following Rhodes’ winning of the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble. He initially declared he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, signaling The Rock as the contender. Fan backlash caused Rhodes to change course, leading to a storyline twist where The Rock turned heel as “The Final Boss”, aligning with Reigns. The two cousins teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. However, Night 2 saw Rhodes capture the WWE title from Reigns.
Regarding a potential future match between Reigns and The Rock, Reigns signaled openness, conditional on fan demand, saying, “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 last month at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has yet to clarify his long-term intentions with the company. With the brand split’s ongoing WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation is rife that The Rock could appear again and potentially build toward a marquee clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Career Possibility
Boxing sensation Tommy Fury has teased the idea of crossing over into professional wrestling with WWE. The younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury shared a backstage video from a recent WWE tour date in the UK.
In the video, Fury expressed appreciation for wrestlers like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and mused about “possibly climbing through those ropes one day.” At 25, Tommy boasts a perfect 10-0 boxing record and is the only fighter to have defeated Jake Paul. His familial ties to Tyson Fury, who previously appeared in WWE, plus his connections to the Paul family and Logan Paul’s WWE involvement, fuel intrigue around a potential wrestling career. A storyline involving the Fury brothers facing the Paul brothers could captivate mainstream audiences and broaden WWE’s appeal.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Sparks Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from WWE’s NXT tapings and programming since late October. According to Fightful Select, insiders report no signs of Femi backstage following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi enjoyed a breakout run after debuting on NXT in April 2023, capturing the Breakout Tournament crown and winning the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record-setting 272 days, but he then suffered his first televised losses in successive matches against D’Angelo.
The absence is currently unexplained—it could be an injury-related hiatus, a strategic pause for character development, or a prelude to a main roster promotion. Given Femi’s talent and stature, wrestling pundits speculate he could soon return targeting the NXT Championship, potentially dethroning reigning champ Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and specialty wrestling shows like Ring Rust Radio for the latest developments in WWE, AEW, and beyond.
Reported by Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report, November 27, 2024.