Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Raises Questions
In recent developments across the WWE landscape, several intriguing stories have emerged involving marquee names and rising stars. Roman Reigns has opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experience and potential future matchups, boxer-turned-celebrity figure Tommy Fury has hinted at a possible WWE career, and questions swirl around Oba Femi’s sudden absence from NXT programming.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and The Rock Match Potential
Roman Reigns spoke candidly during an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina about his feelings regarding his WrestleMania 40 main events involving Cody Rhodes and The Rock. Originally, WWE appeared to be undecided whether Reigns’ main event opponent would be Rhodes or The Rock. When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes over The Rock, Reigns was clear that it did not matter to him as long as he was featured in the main event spotlight.
Reigns stated, “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.”
After Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, seemingly opening the door for The Rock to take that spot. However, following negative fan reactions, Rhodes reversed course, leading to a heel turn for The Rock—rebranded as The Final Boss—and his alliance with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, but Rhodes emerged victorious against Reigns for the WWE title on Night 2. When asked whether a match between Reigns and The Rock could still happen in the future, Roman suggested it’s possible, provided the fans remain vocal. “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 to WWE programming at last month’s Bad Blood event, though his intentions remain unclear. Given the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring the new Bloodline, many speculate The Rock could reappear and potentially build toward that highly anticipated clash with his cousin, Reigns.
Tommy Fury Considers Wrestling, Sparked by WWE UK Tour Experience
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, has recently hinted he might explore professional wrestling within WWE. Sharing his excitement in a YouTube video posted during WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury praised WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and thanked WWE for its hospitality.
He said, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury’s boxing career remains undefeated at 10-0, making him a prominent figure in combat sports. With family ties and notable wins—such as over Jake Paul—the prospect of Fury transitioning into WWE intrigues many fans. Some have speculated about potential high-profile matchups involving Fury and Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar. The idea of tag team confrontations featuring the Fury and Paul brothers could appeal widely to mainstream audiences.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Programming Sparks Speculation
On the NXT front, former North American Champion Oba Femi’s absence from recent tapings has caught the attention of wrestling media and fans alike. As reported by Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage or on television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi enjoyed a dominant run since debuting on NXT in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record 272 days before D’Angelo defeated him. A rematch loss followed at Halloween Havoc, after which Femi has been off television.
While no official explanation has been provided, possibilities include the need for a break to recover from injuries, a strategic pause to reset his character after two back-to-back losses, or preparation for a main roster call-up. Many view Femi as a strong contender to pursue the NXT Championship whenever he returns to action.
As WWE continues to navigate these evolving storylines and roster decisions, fans can expect further developments around these key personalities in the weeks ahead.