Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; NXT Rumors on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with some major updates and intriguing backstage developments lately. Bleacher Report brings you a comprehensive rundown featuring Roman Reigns on his WrestleMania 40 experiences, boxer Tommy Fury exploring a potential wrestling career in WWE, and the recent absence of NXT star Oba Femi from television.
Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes & WrestleMania 40
Roman Reigns recently opened up on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, sharing candid thoughts about his WrestleMania 40 main events, including the shifting plans involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
When asked whether he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns was unequivocal, saying it didn’t matter to him as long as he held the main event spotlight.
"It doesn’t matter to me. 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. They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now. So it was the same task in hand for me."
Originally, after Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, paving the way for The Rock’s much-anticipated comeback. However, following a negative fan reaction to those plans, Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock turned heel, becoming “The Final Boss” to align with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, before Rhodes regained the WWE title from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Looking ahead, Reigns suggested a potential future singles match with The Rock could be on the table, contingent 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 stunned fans with an unannounced return at last month’s Bad Blood event but has remained largely silent since. With The Bloodline storylines heating up, particularly with a WarGames match scheduled at Survivor Series, many are speculating whether The Rock’s return will accelerate into an epic clash with his cousin, Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Wrestling Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, recently teased the possibility of transitioning into pro wrestling. On Sunday, he shared a backstage video on YouTube from WWE’s UK tour, where he mingled with stars including Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes.
"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 said.
Tommy Fury’s boxing record is impressive at 10-0, notably including a victory over Jake Paul. This connection to the Paul family makes him a natural candidate for WWE storylines revolving around Logan Paul, who is currently a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. WWE could potentially capitalize on a "Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers" feud to attract a wider, mainstream audience.
Tyson Fury himself dabbled in WWE, notably defeating Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019, and famously knocking out Austin Theory in the audience at Clash at the Castle 2022, preventing Theory from cashing in his Money in the Bank contract.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Sparks Rumors
Oba Femi, former North American Champion and rising star in WWE’s NXT brand, has not been seen since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been backstage for recent NXT tapings, and his absence is currently unexplained. It may be a strategic decision to allow Femi to regroup after two significant losses, including dropping the North American Championship after a record 272-day reign.
Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi impressed fans with his dominant run, having won the NXT Breakout Tournament and delivering consistent performances.
His return could see him positioned as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, potentially targeting champion Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continued updates on WWE and the wrestling world.
Photo caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock after their victory against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024, Philadelphia (WWE/Getty Images).
Related Topics:
- WWE Clash in Italy results and grades
- Roman Reigns’ future plans
- Tommy Fury and potential pro wrestling crossover
- NXT roster updates and rumors
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