Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Bleacher Report presents the latest updates and insider news from the WWE Universe, covering Roman Reigns’ insights on his WrestleMania 40 matchups, boxer Tommy Fury’s potential WWE aspirations, and current rumors regarding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and WrestleMania 40
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the cornerstones of his WrestleMania 40 storyline: The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns addressed fan speculation about whom he would rather have faced in the main event of WrestleMania 40. When asked if he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of his cousin, The Rock, Reigns made clear that being in the main event was the primary focus.
“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,” he explained.
Following Cody Rhodes’ victory at the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially stated he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This opened the door for The Rock to re-enter the picture. However, after fan backlash about the change, Rhodes reversed his decision. This pivot saw The Rock turn heel, adopting the moniker “The Final Boss” as he aligned with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Roman Reigns teamed up on Night 1 to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. On Night 2, Rhodes captured the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns, signaling a passing of the torch.
Regarding a potential future showdown with The Rock, Reigns expressed that any match would hinge on fan interest. “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,” Reigns said.
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 an unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has since remained absent from programming. With the original and new Bloodline factions set to clash in a WarGames match at this weekend’s Survivor Series, speculation is rife that The Rock could reappear to build toward a future feud with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Possible WWE Career Amid UK Tour
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champ Tyson Fury, has sparked interest in joining WWE. He shared a behind-the-scenes glimpse on his YouTube channel of his time backstage during WWE’s UK tour.
Fury expressed enthusiasm about wrestling, mentioning prominent WWE names 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 them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night,” Fury said.
Tommy Fury, who is undefeated in professional boxing and known notably for defeating Jake Paul, has a natural connection to WWE through his brother Tyson. Tyson Fury had a one-off WWE match at Crown Jewel 2019 and made a surprising appearance at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022. Given Tommy’s ties to the Paul family and Logan Paul’s in-ring presence in WWE, there is potential for intriguing future storylines, possibly involving a Paul brothers vs. Fury brothers dynamic.
Oba Femi’s Absence From NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion and breakout star, has not appeared on NXT television or backstage at tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select reports his absence without any confirmed reasons.
Femi’s televised loss to D’Angelo ended his record-setting 272-day reign as North American Champion and was followed by a rematch loss at Halloween Havoc. Since then, there has been no on-screen presence or updates regarding him.
Speculation includes possible injury, a main roster promotion on the horizon, or a strategic television hiatus to mitigate the fallout from his consecutive losses. Femi had made a strong impact in NXT with notable accomplishments including winning the Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Title.
If and when he returns, Femi is viewed as a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, possibly positioning him as the next significant titleholder.
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