Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Roman Reigns Talks WrestleMania 40 Opponents: The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
In a recent interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns opened up about the build-up and outcome of WrestleMania 40, particularly the changing landscape of his main event opponents. The anticipation initially centered around a marquee match between Reigns and WWE legend The Rock or up-and-coming star Cody Rhodes.
When host Jimmy Traina asked Reigns if he felt disappointed facing Rhodes instead of The Rock, the “Tribal Chief” was unfazed. “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “It didn’t matter who it was. They’re trying to stop history from happening. They’re trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
Initially, Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but declared he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the championship at WrestleMania 40. That announcement seemed to pave the way for The Rock to step into the title match. However, negative fan reaction triggered a reversal from Rhodes, culminating in The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns.
The Rock and Reigns teamed up on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins. On Night 2, Rhodes emerged victorious, capturing the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns.
Regarding the unreached dream match between Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40, Traina asked if such a bout could still happen. Reigns responded optimistically, emphasizing WWE’s commitment to fan demands. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said.
The Rock made a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but left his intentions ambiguous. With the upcoming Survivor Series featuring a high-stakes WarGames match involving the new and original Bloodlines, speculation is rife that The Rock might reappear, possibly setting the stage for a future clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Ambitions Following Backstage Visit
Boxing star Tommy Fury stirred WWE excitement this week by suggesting he may pursue wrestling in the future. Fury shared a behind-the-scenes video on YouTube from WWE’s recent UK tour, showing himself mingling with WWE Superstars. “It’s been a great night,” Fury said. “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
The 25-year-old Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who briefly worked with WWE, has gained his own sporting accolades with an unbeaten 10-0 boxing record and the notable distinction of being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul.
Given his connection to the Paul family—and Logan Paul’s current status as a WWE Superstar and former U.S. Champion—Tommy Fury could be positioned as a compelling opponent or tag team partner in WWE storylines. WWE insiders are likely keeping tabs on Fury as a crossover talent who could broaden the company’s mainstream appeal.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT programming since late October, according to reports from Fightful Select. Following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has not been seen backstage or featured on NXT tapings.
While official reasons remain undisclosed, this downtime may be a strategic pause after Femi’s consecutive losses, allowing him to reset creatively. After debuting in April 2023, Femi quickly rose as a dominant force—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American Championship, and holding the title for a record 272 days.
His return could position him as a prime contender for the NXT Championship, potentially dethroning current titleholder Trick Williams to reclaim his standing in the brand’s upper echelon.
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Photo caption: WWE icons The Rock and Roman Reigns celebrate their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo: WWE/Getty Images)
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