Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and Future WWE Prospects; Tommy Fury Eyes Wrestling; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
In a recent interview, WWE star Roman Reigns opened up about his experiences at WrestleMania 40, including his matches against Cody Rhodes and the potential for a future showdown with The Rock. Meanwhile, rising boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a possible wrestling career with WWE, and NXT’s Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent tapings, fueling rumors about his status.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and The Rock Rivalry
On Tuesday, Roman Reigns appeared on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, where he addressed questions about the highly anticipated WrestleMania 40 main event. Originally, WWE planned for Reigns to face his cousin The Rock in the headliner. However, plans shifted, and he ended up wrestling Cody Rhodes instead.
Asked whether he was disappointed by the change, Reigns was clear: it didn’t matter who he faced, as long as he was in the main event spotlight.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “They are trying to stop history from happening… so it was the same task in hand for me.”
The storyline became more complex after Rhodes, who won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, initially announced he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This opened the door for The Rock’s return, who turned heel as “The Final Boss” and aligned with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins at Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. However, on Night 2, Rhodes triumphed over Reigns to capture the WWE title.
Looking ahead, Reigns expressed openness to finally facing The Rock if the fans demand it:
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock recently made an unexpected WWE appearance at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his intentions or return since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series set to feature The Bloodline’s new and original factions, fans speculate The Rock could reappear and set the stage for a future clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Aspirations
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has shown interest in potentially joining WWE’s ranks. Posting a YouTube video from backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury shared moments with stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?” Fury said.
Tommy Fury, undefeated in professional boxing and known for handing a loss to YouTuber Jake Paul, would fit well into WWE’s entertainment sphere, especially considering the existing connections between the Fury and Paul families. WWE could leverage a potential rivalry or team-up featuring the Fury and Paul brothers to attract mainstream audiences.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Fuels Speculation
Meanwhile, Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has been missing from tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select reports no backstage sighting of Femi for over a month, with no official explanation given.
Femi rose fast through NXT after debuting in April 2023. He won the NXT Breakout Tournament, claimed the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee, and held the title for a record 272 days before unexpectedly dropping it last month.
He also lost the rematch to D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc and has been absent from the show since. Speculation suggests several possibilities: Femi may be taking time off to recover from injury, preparing for a main roster call-up, or simply being rested to reset his character after two major defeats.
When he returns, Femi is considered a top contender for the NXT Championship and could be pivotal in future title storylines.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and the latest episodes of Ring Rust Radio for continuing coverage and discussions on these wrestling developments and other hot topics from the WWE universe.