Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Rumors Surround Oba Femi
Bleacher Report’s latest WWE update covers several notable developments within the wrestling world, including Roman Reigns’ recent comments on his WrestleMania 40 opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer Tommy Fury’s interest in joining WWE, and the mysterious absence of NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40: Facing Cody Rhodes and The Rock’s Future Possibility
During an interview on the SI Media podcast, Roman Reigns opened up about the decisions leading up to the WrestleMania 40 main event and his feelings about facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock. Speaking with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Reigns emphasized that it did not matter to him who he faced in the main event, as long as he was in that spotlight.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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,” Reigns explained.
Reigns described the challenge as consistent regardless of his opponent, highlighting the role of “defending the pinnacle” of WWE championship status.
The buildup to WrestleMania 40 initially seemed to point towards a showdown with The Rock after Cody Rhodes, who won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship. However, after a strong fan backlash, the narrative shifted: Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock turned heel — adopting the moniker "The Final Boss" and aligning with Reigns. At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, while Rhodes ultimately claimed the WWE title from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Addressing the possibility of a future match against The Rock, Reigns suggested that fan demand would drive the decision.
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” stated Reigns.
Given The Rock’s recent, unannounced WWE return at Bad Blood in October 2024, speculation abounds that he could reappear at upcoming events such as Survivor Series to further build toward a potential clash with his cousin.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE, Potential Boxing-to-Wrestling Crossover
Boxer Tommy Fury has teased a possible wrestling career with WWE after attending a recent WWE event during the company’s UK tour. In a YouTube video posted Sunday, Fury shared backstage footage featuring interactions with WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” Fury said.
At 25 years old, Fury boasts a perfect 10-0 professional boxing record and holds the distinction of being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul. He is also the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who had a one-off WWE match at Crown Jewel 2019 and made notable appearances, including a 2022 intervention at WWE Clash at the Castle.
Given Tommy Fury’s cross-sport appeal and connections to the Paul family—Logan Paul is an active WWE Superstar and former United States Champion—the idea of a boxing-vs-wrestling storyline involving the Fury and Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention and widen WWE’s audience.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has not appeared on NXT programming or at tapings for over a month following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, 2024, according to Fightful Select.
Femi’s surprise defeat ended a record-breaking 272-day reign as North American Champion. He also lost the subsequent rematch to D’Angelo, and his current absence has sparked speculation. Reasons for the break are unclear—it could be to allow Femi to recover from injuries, reposition him creatively within WWE, or prepare him for a main roster call-up.
Femi, who debuted on NXT TV in April 2023 and gained recognition by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and the North American title, remains a strong contender for future championship pursuits. Many observers believe he is well-positioned to become a top challenger for the NXT Championship and to potentially dethrone current champion Trick Williams when he returns.
In Summary
Roman Reigns remains focused on maintaining his status as a key main event player regardless of opposition, while remaining open to a monumental showdown with The Rock if fan support demands it. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury’s potential crossover into WWE could shake up wrestling’s current landscape by introducing more boxing-wrestling storylines. And as Oba Femi takes a brief hiatus from NXT, fans eagerly await his return and next steps in his ascendant wrestling career.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continued WWE coverage and insider updates from the world of professional wrestling.