Roman Reigns Talks The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Debut; NXT Star Oba Femi Missing from TV
Bleacher Report covers the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including Roman Reigns’ reflections on WrestleMania 40, boxer Tommy Fury’s WWE ambitions, and NXT star Oba Femi’s recent unexplained absence.
Roman Reigns Opens Up on WrestleMania 40 Matchup and Possible Rock Future
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event opponent, the dynamics with The Rock, and the potential for a future match with his cousin.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock at WrestleMania 40, Reigns showed a clear focus on the bigger picture: being in 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, you know. I am the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out. It’s where, we just need to get there and defend this thing. It didn’t matter who it is. 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’ Royal Rumble 2024 win, he initially chose not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship. This led to speculation that The Rock would step into that WrestleMania spot. However, after some backlash from fans, Rhodes reversed his decision. This twist saw The Rock turn heel as "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns then teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. The next night, Rhodes went on to capture the WWE Championship from Reigns.
Traina also asked Reigns whether a match against The Rock could still happen in the future. Reigns suggested it’s possible, but largely depends on fan interest.
"I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, we’re a company who—we’re not being dictated to. We have a vision for where we’re trying to go, but we know who the consumers are. We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people."
Reigns concluded:
"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 to WWE programming at Bad Blood last month, though his future direction remains unclear. With the storyline featuring the new and original Bloodline factions culminating in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation is ripe that The Rock could reappear and potentially build toward a high-profile confrontation with Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has publicly expressed a possible interest in pursuing a career in professional wrestling with WWE.
In a YouTube video posted during WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury documented his backstage visit, meeting WWE Superstars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love. Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them, Gunther, the lot of them. Thank you to the 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, 25, is undefeated in his professional boxing career and is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. Given his ties to the Paul family and his brother Tyson’s occasional WWE involvement—including Tyson’s 2019 Crown Jewel match victory and his infamous 2022 actions at Clash at the Castle—there’s potential for the Fury brothers to engage in WWE storylines with the Paul brothers, notably Logan Paul, who is an active WWE Superstar.
This crossover appeal could attract mainstream attention, positioning Tommy Fury as an intriguing future WWE talent.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Absence Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings for over a month, sources from Fightful Select reveal.
Femi has not been seen backstage or on television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, 2024. The reason for this absence remains unconfirmed—it could be a strategic pause following two significant defeats, a potential injury, or a sign he may be preparing for a main roster call-up.
Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks. After winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, he cashed in his title opportunity to dethrone Dragon Lee, holding the North American Championship for a record 272 days before losing it to D’Angelo. His loss in the rematch at Halloween Havoc was his first televised defeat since his debut.
There is speculation that Femi could be rested to allow the storyline impact of these losses to settle or to prepare him for a renewed push—possibly chasing the NXT Championship.
Stay tuned for further WWE updates and developments as these stories evolve.