Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
In the latest updates from the WWE Universe, Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 main event experience involving Cody Rhodes and The Rock, while boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a potential future in WWE. Additionally, emerging NXT star Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent tapings, sparking speculation about his status.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40: Facing Rhodes, The Rock, and Future Possibilities
During a candid conversation on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns shared his perspective on the highly anticipated WrestleMania 40 main event scenario. Originally, fans expected “The Original Tribal Chief” to clash with The Rock. However, the WWE storyline shifted, ultimately positioning Cody Rhodes as Reigns’ challenger. Reigns revealed that the change did not affect his mindset:
“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 narrative switched after Rhodes’ victory in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match, as Rhodes initially announced he would not challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40, with The Rock seemingly taking that spot. Following fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his decision, leading to The Rock’s heel turn — adopting the moniker “The Final Boss” — and forming an alliance with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns then teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of the event, with Rhodes capturing the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. When asked about the possibility of a future match between Reigns and The Rock, Roman was open but clear that fan demand would be key:
“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."
He added, "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 a surprise return to WWE programming last month at the Bad Blood event but has since remained absent, fueling speculation about potential future storylines, especially with The Bloodline story heating up ahead of Survivor Series.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential WWE Future During UK Appearance
Boxer and reality TV personality Tommy Fury recently hinted at a possible transition into professional wrestling with WWE. Posting a YouTube video from backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury expressed enthusiasm about the experience and appreciation for WWE superstars 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 them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy, 25, is the younger brother of boxing legend Tyson Fury, who made his own WWE debut at Crown Jewel 2019 with a memorable match against Braun Strowman. Tommy’s undefeated boxing record and high-profile fights against celebrities like Jake Paul provide a natural platform for crossover appeal in WWE. His potential involvement could also create intriguing storylines involving Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar, setting the stage for a “Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers” dynamic that could engage both sports and entertainment fans.
Oba Femi’s Absence From NXT Raises Questions
Meanwhile, NXT’s former North American Champion Oba Femi has not appeared in tapings since his October 27 loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc. Reports from Fightful Select indicate that Femi has been off-screen for nearly a month, with no official word on the cause.
Femi burst onto the scene after debuting in April 2023 with an impressive run, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and securing the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee. He held the title for a record-breaking 272 days before his streak was snapped by D’Angelo. Femi’s absence after consecutive losses has led to speculation — whether he is recuperating from an injury, preparing for a main roster call-up, or temporarily pulled off to reset his character remains uncertain.
Should Oba Femi return to NXT, expectations are high for him to once again target the top prize, the NXT Championship, possibly positioning him as the next challenger to Trick Williams.
Stay tuned as these stories develop within the ever-evolving WWE landscape.
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