WWE News Update: Roman Reigns on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report brings you the latest headlines from the WWE Universe, featuring insights from Roman Reigns, a potential crossover from boxing to wrestling by Tommy Fury, and ongoing rumors around NXT standout Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Prospects with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently spoke candidly on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast about his experience headlining WrestleMania 40 against Cody Rhodes, as well as the possibility of a future match with The Rock. WrestleMania 40 created buzz due to the initial uncertainty over whether Reigns would face The Rock or Rhodes in the marquee bout.
Reigns expressed that it made little difference to him who his opponent was — the key factor was being in the main event spotlight. "I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with," Reigns said. He emphasized that his role was to defend his championship against challengers trying to "stop history from happening."
The storyline had twists when Rhodes, after winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, initially declined to face Reigns for the WWE Championship, leading to plans for The Rock to take that spot at WrestleMania. Fan backlash caused Rhodes to change course, leading to The Rock turning heel and forming an alliance with Reigns as "The Final Boss."
Together, Reigns and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. The following night, Rhodes captured the WWE Championship from Reigns in the main event.
Regarding a potential one-on-one match with The Rock in the future, Reigns said such a clash hinges on fan interest: "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen." The Rock had made a surprise return last month at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has yet to clarify his full intentions.
With the Bloodline faction’s ongoing storylines, particularly the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation grows that The Rock could reemerge to build toward a high-profile showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Future
Boxer Tommy Fury has dropped hints about a possible wrestling career with WWE. Fury shared a YouTube video showcasing his backstage experience during WWE’s UK tour, where he met stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He thanked the WWE and its performers for their hospitality and expressed enthusiasm about “possibly climbing through them ropes one day,” signaling an openness to a pro wrestling future.
Tommy Fury is the younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who has previously dabbled in WWE. Tyson’s notable WWE moment was his match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019. More recently, Tyson made headlines at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022 for knocking out Austin Theory to prevent a Money in the Bank cash-in.
At 25 years old, Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated professional boxing record and is the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, a crossover figure with WWE ties. Given his connection to the Paul brothers, WWE could explore storylines involving Tommy Fury and WWE Superstar Logan Paul, potentially creating crossover matches that appeal to mainstream audiences.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Continued Absence Raises Questions
NXT fans have noticed that former North American Champion Oba Femi has been missing from recent NXT tapings for over a month. According to Fightful Select, there have been no reports of Femi backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. While the precise reason for his absence is unclear, it may be a strategic move by NXT management to allow Femi to recover from two consecutive losses or to possibly prepare him for a call-up to WWE’s main roster.
Femi, a dominant presence since his televised NXT debut in April 2023, captured attention by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and then securing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, holding the title for a record 272 days before dropping it last month.
Wrestling insiders speculate that upon returning, Femi could be positioned to target the NXT Championship and may be a prime contender to dethrone current champion Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and Ring Rust Radio for ongoing coverage and analysis of WWE’s evolving storylines, athletes, and industry rumors as the wrestling world continues to captivate fans worldwide.