Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT’s Oba Femi Absent Amid Rumors
In the latest updates from the WWE Universe, several notable storylines and behind-the-scenes developments have surfaced involving top WWE talent Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, boxing star Tommy Fury, and NXT’s Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 and Potential Rock Match
Roman Reigns recently joined Sports Illustrated’s SI Media podcast, where he shared candid thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 experience and interactions with The Rock and Cody Rhodes. When asked about his main event match against Rhodes instead of facing The Rock, Reigns emphasized that he was focused on defending his championship rather than who the opponent was.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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,” Reigns explained.
This came after an intriguing lead-up to WrestleMania 40, where Cody Rhodes initially won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but chose not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, creating space for The Rock to enter the title picture. Fan backlash led to a reversal of plans: Rhodes soon declared he would challenge Reigns after all, while The Rock adopted the heel persona “The Final Boss” and aligned with Reigns. The Night 1 main event of WrestleMania 40 saw The Rock and Reigns team up successfully against Rhodes and Seth Rollins. However, Rhodes ultimately defeated Reigns on Night 2 to claim the WWE title.
Addressing the long-anticipated match between Reigns and The Rock that didn’t happen at WrestleMania, Reigns suggested such a showdown remains possible if fan demand is strong. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” Reigns said. The Rock recently made a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has yet to clarify his plans, leaving open the possibility of reuniting or clashing with Reigns in the near future—perhaps as soon as Survivor Series.
Boxer Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has signaled potential interest in venturing into professional wrestling with WWE. On Sunday, Tommy shared a YouTube video showing backstage footage from a recent WWE United Kingdom tour. The clips featured him interacting with WWE superstars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In the video, Fury expressed appreciation for the WWE locker room and the WWE’s hospitality, teasing the idea of “possibly climbing through those ropes one day.” At 25 years old, Fury boasts an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and is notably the only fighter to defeat Jake Paul. Given his connections with the Paul family and boxing crossover appeal, Fury could be well-positioned as a fresh WWE talent and a potential rival to Logan Paul, who is a current WWE superstar and former United States Champion.
Tyson Fury, Tommy’s older brother, had a WWE one-off match at Crown Jewel 2019 and has made memorable appearances at WWE events since. Tommy’s emergence keeps the door open for more Fury family involvement in WWE storylines, which could attract a wider mainstream audience.
Oba Femi’s Mysterious Absence from NXT
Meanwhile, NXT star Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT tapings over the past month. Sources at Fightful Select suggest that Femi hasn’t been seen backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, and no official explanation has been given.
Femi had a meteoric rise after debuting on NXT TV in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship by cashing in against Dragon Lee. His reign lasted 272 days—the longest in the title’s history—before unexpectedly dropping the championship to D’Angelo last month. Following another defeat in a rematch at Halloween Havoc, Femi’s absence has sparked speculation.
It remains unclear whether Femi is dealing with an injury, preparing for a main roster call-up, or simply being kept off TV to recover from the recent setbacks. Wrestling insiders note that when he does return to NXT, Femi is a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially positioning him as a future centerpiece of the brand.
These developments highlight an intriguing crossroads in WWE programming, balancing main roster rivalries, crossover potential from boxing, and NXT’s evolving roster dynamics. Fans can stay tuned for possible showdowns between WWE legends, rising stars exploring new paths, and familiar talents aiming for renewed glory.