Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report brings the latest updates from the WWE Universe, covering Roman Reigns’ remarks on recent WrestleMania events, boxer Tommy Fury’s WWE interest, and rumors surrounding NXT talent Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Potential Rock Match
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE superstar Roman Reigns opened up about his experiences facing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 and the possibility of meeting The Rock in future matches.
Reigns candidly addressed the shifting plans leading up to WrestleMania 40, where fans witnessed back-and-forth speculation over whether he would face The Rock or Rhodes in the main event. When asked if he felt disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns replied that his main focus was simply to be in the main event and defend his title, regardless of the opponent.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “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 at hand for me.”
The storyline saw Cody Rhodes initially win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and postpone his challenge for the WWE Championship, leading to The Rock’s buildup as a contender. However, fan backlash resulted in Rhodes reversing his stance, culminating in The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and joining forces with Reigns.
The alliance delivered a show-stealing main event on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, where The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The following night, Rhodes reclaimed the WWE Championship from Reigns, leaving fans yearning for a Reigns vs. Rock showdown that never occurred.
When probed about that dream match’s future, Reigns expressed optimism: “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock surprised fans with an unadvertised appearance at WWE Bad Blood last month but has remained absent from WWE programming since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring competing Bloodline factions, many speculate The Rock could return and reignite his rivalry with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Ambitions During UK Tour
Boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at a potential wrestling career with WWE after spending time backstage during the company’s recent United Kingdom tour.
In a YouTube video shared Sunday, Fury expressed admiration for WWE superstars and the organization itself, mentioning Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther as highlights of his experience.
“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,” Fury said. “Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
At 25 years old, Tommy Fury is the younger brother of former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who has previously dabbled in WWE, including a match at Crown Jewel 2019 and a cameo at Clash at the Castle in 2022. Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated professional boxing record of 10-0 and is best known for handing Jake Paul his only boxing defeat. His connections to the Paul family and his growing popularity could make him an attractive WWE signing, potentially positioning him for a rivalry or tag team scenario involving Logan Paul.
Oba Femi Reportedly Missing from NXT Programming
On the NXT front, former North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from recent NXT tapings and television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select, as reported by Ringside News, confirmed there have been no sightings or backstage reports involving Femi over the past month. The reasons for his absence are unclear — whether it’s an injury, a planned break after consecutive losses, or a preparation for a main roster call-up.
Femi, who debuted on televised NXT in April 2023, quickly gained momentum by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, holding the title for a record 272 days before dropping it to D’Angelo.
Though he lost the rematch at Halloween Havoc, his absence has sparked speculation about his next move. If and when he returns, Femi is seen as a strong contender for the NXT Championship and a potential challenger to Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continued coverage of WWE, NXT, and the wider wrestling world.