Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future; Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT
In the latest updates from the WWE universe, Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 main event experiences involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes. Additionally, boxer-turned-celebrity Tommy Fury has teased a potential future in WWE, while NXT star Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent tapings, sparking speculation about his status.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast hosted by Jimmy Traina, where he candidly spoke about facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the main event of WrestleMania 40. Despite WWE’s initial plans shifting between Reigns facing Rhodes or The Rock, Reigns stated that the identity of his opponent did not matter as long as he was headlining the show.
He remarked, "It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It was the same task in hand for me." Reigns explained that whether it was Rhodes or The Rock, the goal was the same—defending his position at the top and preventing others from dethroning him.
Following Rhodes’ victory in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially announced he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, paving the way for The Rock’s potential involvement. However, a swift fan backlash prompted Rhodes to reverse course, leading to The Rock turning heel, rebranding as "The Final Boss," and aligning with Reigns. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, while the following night saw Rhodes capturing the WWE title from Reigns.
When asked about the possibility of a future Reigns vs. The Rock match, Roman expressed openness, emphasizing fan influence. "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen," he said, acknowledging WWE’s attentiveness to its audience.
The Rock made an unannounced appearance at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has yet to reveal his full intentions or make another return. With the upcoming Survivor Series featuring a WarGames match involving different iterations of The Bloodline, many anticipate a potential The Rock comeback that could build toward a family showdown with his cousin, Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Exploring WWE Opportunities
British boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, recently posted a video from backstage at a WWE event during the company’s United Kingdom tour. Fury expressed enthusiasm about his experience and hinted at the possibility of stepping into the wrestling ring one day.
In his YouTube video, Fury praised WWE superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, thanking WWE for their hospitality. "I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?" he said, suggesting an openness to pursuing a wrestling career.
Tommy Fury holds a spotless 10-0 record in professional boxing and remains the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. Given Tyson Fury’s past involvement with WWE—including a match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and notable crowd interaction at Clash at the Castle 2022—Tommy’s crossover appeal could attract interest for mainstream WWE storylines.
His connection to the Paul family raises the intriguing prospect of a wrestling feud or tag team storyline involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers, particularly with Logan Paul active in WWE and holding past United States Championship status. WWE is likely considering how best to leverage Tommy Fury’s profile in the future.
Oba Femi’s Recent Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings for over a month following a pair of high-profile losses. Sources from Fightful Select indicate no backstage presence of Femi since his defeat to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi, a standout athlete from the University of Alabama and NXT Breakout Tournament winner, had a dominant tenure in NXT, including an unprecedented 272-day reign as North American Champion. However, his back-to-back losses to D’Angelo have preceded his disappearance from shows.
The reason for his absence is currently unclear. It could be a strategic break to allow Femi to reset after significant setbacks, or possibly related to injury or preparation for a main roster call-up. Another possibility is that NXT management is spacing out his appearances to build anticipation for his return.
Should Femi return soon, he is viewed as a top contender for the NXT Championship, poised to make a strong impact upon his comeback.
Summary
Roman Reigns remains focused on his role as a top WWE star regardless of opponent, while expressing interest in a future clash with The Rock depending on fan demand. Tommy Fury’s backstage visit and comments suggest he’s seriously contemplating a transition into WWE, a move that could open doors for interesting storylines. Meanwhile, Oba Femi’s unexpected hiatus from NXT programming leaves fans wondering about his next chapter as he remains a key figure in the company’s future plans.
Stay tuned for more updates from the WWE Universe as these stories continue to develop.