Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Debut; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
By Mike Chiari – Nov 27, 2024
Bleacher Report provides the latest updates from the WWE Universe, covering Roman Reigns’ thoughts on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer Tommy Fury’s potential WWE aspirations, and rumors surrounding NXT’s Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Addresses WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Potential Match with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, offering his perspective on the backstage dynamics leading up to WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock. Reigns was asked if he felt disappointed about that matchup switch.
Reigns was unfazed by who stood across from him in the main event, stating, “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 initial plan for WrestleMania 40 centered around The Rock challenging Reigns for the WWE Championship after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but subsequently announced he wouldn’t challenge for the title at WrestleMania. This led to The Rock’s surprise heel turn as The Final Boss, aligning with Reigns. On Night 1 of WrestleMania, Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, only for Rhodes to capture the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. When asked about a potential future match with The Rock—the long-awaited showdown that didn’t materialize at WrestleMania 40—Reigns was optimistic, emphasizing the influence of the fans: “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 last month at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his plans or appear again. With the upcoming Survivor Series featuring a WarGames match between the new and original Bloodline factions, speculation grows that this event might be a platform for The Rock’s return and setting up a future clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Interest
British boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, has expressed potential interest in pursuing a career in professional wrestling with WWE. Sharing a video on YouTube from backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event, Tommy praised WWE stars and hinted at a future in the company.
He said, “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 those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury, 25, stands undefeated in professional boxing (10-0) and notably handed Jake Paul his only loss. His association with the Paul family and WWE Superstar Logan Paul could make him a fitting addition to WWE storylines, potentially leading to matches involving the Fury and Paul brothers.
Tyson Fury previously worked with WWE, competing in a single match at Crown Jewel 2019 and notably interfering at Clash at the Castle in 2022 to thwart Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in. Tommy’s crossover appeal could attract a broader mainstream audience to WWE.
Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Sparks NXT Speculation
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has been noticeably absent from NXT tapings and programming for approximately a month. Reports from Fightful Select indicate that Femi has not appeared since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi’s absence remains unexplained. It could be a simple rest period following his first televised loss and loss of the North American title after a record 272-day reign. After debuting in NXT in April 2023 and winning the Breakout Tournament en route to the title, Femi appeared to be a major rising star.
Possibilities for his absence include an injury, a potential main roster call-up, or a strategic creative hiatus to let recent losses settle. Femi is widely considered a strong contender for future NXT Championship pursuits upon his return.
Summary:
- Roman Reigns reflects on the WrestleMania 40 main event, his competition with Cody Rhodes and The Rock, and the potential future showdown with his cousin The Rock.
- Tommy Fury shows interest in joining WWE, backed by backstage visits and connections to prominent names.
- Oba Femi has been off NXT TV following losses, stirring speculation about his status and next steps in WWE.
Stay tuned for more updates as these stories develop in the world of professional wrestling.