Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; NXT Rumors Surround Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, spotlighting Roman Reigns’ insights on WrestleMania 40 opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, the boxing star Tommy Fury’s potential WWE ambitions, and recent backstage rumors concerning NXT standout Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Future Prospects with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, where he shared candid thoughts about his WrestleMania 40 bouts and the evolving storyline involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the WrestleMania 40 main event, Reigns emphasized his focus remained solely on being the central figure heading into the event.
“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.”
The matchups at WrestleMania were originally up in the air after Rhodes won the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble but declared he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship. This opened the door for The Rock, who made an unexpected return, turning heel and aligning with Reigns as part of The Bloodline faction. Together, Reigns and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, while Rhodes claimed the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Addressing the much-anticipated match between The Rock and himself that fans hoped for at WrestleMania 40, Reigns said a future showdown remains a possibility if the fanbase demands it.
“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. 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 his return at the WWE event Bad Blood last month, although his long-term intentions within the company remain unclear. With The Bloodline set to clash in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, fans speculate that The Rock could reappear, potentially setting the stage for a blockbuster bout with Reigns.
Boxing Star Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, teased the possibility of a future in professional wrestling with WWE.
In a recent YouTube video filmed backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury expressed admiration for WWE superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. He concluded with an open-ended message suggesting he might step into the wrestling ring one day.
“…And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury has made a name for himself in boxing, maintaining a 10-0 record and famously being the only person to defeat Jake Paul, a prominent figure linked to WWE through his brother Logan Paul. This connection enhances the prospect of Tommy Fury potentially joining WWE, where a rivalry or tag team storyline involving the Fury and Paul brothers could draw significant mainstream attention.
His brother Tyson Fury previously appeared in WWE, notably defeating Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019 and making a memorable impact by knocking out Austin Theory at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022. —
Oba Femi’s Mysterious Absence from NXT Programming
On the NXT front, reports indicate that former North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select, via Ringside News, notes that there is no clear explanation for Femi’s recent absence. It could be a strategic hiatus following two key losses or potentially related to injury.
Since debuting on televised NXT in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, and holding the title a record 272 days before his recent defeats.
Though currently off television, Femi remains a strong contender for future NXT title scenes, with speculation that he could challenge for the NXT Championship and potentially dethrone current titleholder Trick Williams when he returns.
Stay tuned for more updates on these stories and other wrestling news.
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Photo: The Rock and Roman Reigns after their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 (WWE/Getty Images).