Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
Bleacher Report dives into the latest updates from the WWE Universe this week, covering comments from Roman Reigns on key WrestleMania 40 moments, a possible future WWE career for boxer Tommy Fury, and speculation surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 and The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, where he reflected on the high-profile main event changes for WrestleMania 40. Initially, fans anticipated a marquee showdown between Reigns and The Rock, but the event evolved into a multi-layered storyline involving Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns emphasized his role as the "main event" and the universal challenge posed by any opponent:
"It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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."
Following Rhodes’s victory in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, there was initial uncertainty around whether he would face Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This ambiguity led to The Rock’s heel turn and his new persona as "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns in the process.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, while Rhodes reclaimed the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2’s main event.
Regarding the highly anticipated Rock vs. Reigns match that fans have long hoped for but which did not materialize at the marquee event, Reigns sees potential for it in the future:
"If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
With The Rock’s recent surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood and the ongoing storyline between The Bloodline factions culminating at Survivor Series, expectations build for a possible renewed clash between the cousins.
Tommy Fury Interested in WWE; Connects with WWE Stars
British boxer and reality TV personality Tommy Fury has hinted at a potential crossover into professional wrestling with WWE. In a recent YouTube video filmed backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury expressed enthusiasm about the environment and his interactions with WWE talent:
"And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night."
Fury, 25, comes from a family with a wrestling connection—his older brother Tyson Fury previously competed in WWE, notably at Crown Jewel 2019 and attending other WWE events in recent years.
Boasting an undefeated 10-0 boxing record and a notable victory over Jake Paul, Tommy Fury’s existing ties with the Paul family create interesting narrative possibilities in WWE, especially given Logan Paul’s active role as a WWE Superstar. The prospect of tag team or rivalry matches involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could attract mainstream audiences and boost WWE’s crossover appeal.
Oba Femi’s Absence From NXT Programming Raises Questions
Since losing the NXT North American Championship to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Oba Femi has not been publicly seen on NXT programming or backstage. According to Fightful Select, no reports have indicated Femi’s presence for tapings in the past month.
A rising star since his televised NXT debut in April 2023, Femi had a commanding run—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, claiming the North American title from Dragon Lee, and holding it a record 272 days. However, a sudden title loss and rematch defeat to D’Angelo marked a downturn in his momentum.
Reasons for his absence could range from a much-needed reset following two losses, injury concerns, or potential preparation for a main roster call-up. Alternatively, NXT creative may be holding Femi off television to allow his character to regroup.
When he returns, expectations are high that Femi will once again be positioned for major storylines, possibly targeting the NXT Championship to cement his status as a top-tier talent in WWE’s developmental system.
Summary
Roman Reigns reflects candidly on the WrestleMania 40 title scene and a possible future showdown with The Rock, who remains an enigmatic presence in WWE. Meanwhile, boxer Tommy Fury is seriously considering a WWE career, inspired by his backstage exposure and familial ties to the sport. NXT’s Oba Femi remains absent from recent programming, sparking speculation concerning his next creative direction.
WWE fans can look forward to continued developments in all three narratives as the company progresses into the holiday season and builds momentum toward upcoming events like Survivor Series and beyond.