Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; NXT Star Oba Femi’s Status in Question
In recent interviews and reports, significant developments have emerged from the WWE universe, covering insights from Roman Reigns on his WrestleMania 40 storyline involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes, potential WWE ambitions of boxer Tommy Fury, and rumors regarding NXT standout Oba Femi’s current absence from the show.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event Opponents and Future Prospects with The Rock
Roman Reigns shared candid thoughts during an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, addressing his headline bouts at WrestleMania 40 and the evolving dynamics involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns explained that it did not matter to him whether he faced The Rock or Cody Rhodes in the main event, as his focus was always on defending his championship and being the center of attention:
“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 the same task in hand for me.”
The storyline at WrestleMania 40 had initially looked like it would culminate in a showdown between Reigns and The Rock. However, following Rhodes’ 2024 Royal Rumble victory and his statement that he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, The Rock was presented as the potential challenger. The fans’ mixed to negative reaction to this booking led Rhodes to reverse course and ultimately challenge Reigns. This turn of events also sparked The Rock’s heel turn as “The Final Boss,” aligning him with Reigns. The new duo defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, before Rhodes claimed the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding the possibility of a future Reigns vs. The Rock match, Reigns emphasized that such decisions would be influenced by passionate fan demand and WWE’s recognition of their audience:
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock, who made a surprise WWE appearance last month at Bad Blood without clarifying his future plans, could be slated for another impactful return soon, possibly at Survivor Series. This event features a WarGames match pitting new and original versions of The Bloodline against each other, providing an opportune setting for The Rock’s resurgence.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Aspirations After UK Tour Backstage Visit
Boxer Tommy Fury expressed enthusiasm about potentially stepping into the WWE wrestling world after filming a backstage video during WWE’s recent UK tour.
In the video posted on YouTube, Fury interacted warmly with several WWE Superstars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, thanking WWE for the experience and hinting at a possible future as a wrestler:
“And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
At 25 years old, Tommy — the younger brother of former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury — has made a name for himself in boxing with a 10-0 record and headlining victory over Jake Paul. His family connection to WWE through Tyson, who wrestled once at Crown Jewel 2019 and was involved in a notable 2022 incident with Austin Theory, adds intrigue to Tommy’s potential WWE prospects.
Given his ties to the Paul family, a WWE storyline involving Tommy Fury as either a rival or ally to Logan Paul could attract wider mainstream attention and broaden audience appeal.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Reports have surfaced about former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi’s lack of presence at recent NXT tapings. According to Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage or on television following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi’s absence follows a historic 272-day reign as North American Champion, which ended with that loss. Femi also lost the subsequent rematch against D’Angelo and has not been featured since. While the reasons remain unclear, several theories include the possibility of Femi taking time off to heal an injury, a creative reset following consecutive losses, or preparations for a move to WWE’s main roster.
If and when he returns to NXT, Femi is considered a strong candidate to challenge for the NXT Championship, signaling WWE’s continued faith in his star potential.
Summary
Roman Reigns reaffirmed his confidence in his WrestleMania 40 storyline involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes, indicating a future showdown with The Rock could happen with enough fan support. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury’s backstage visit to WWE shows his interest in possibly pursuing a wrestling career, continuing the Fury family’s link to WWE. Lastly, Oba Femi’s current absence from NXT programming has sparked rumors regarding his status, though many expect his eventual return to be impactful.
Fans of WWE can look forward to potential fresh developments involving these key figures in the coming months.