Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Reports on Oba Femi’s Absence
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report offers the latest updates and insights from the WWE Universe as top superstars reveal their plans and perspectives following recent headline events.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns, WWE’s reigning "Tribal Chief," recently sat down for an in-depth conversation on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, where he discussed his experiences surrounding WrestleMania 40, particularly his main-event match against Cody Rhodes and the anticipated showdown with The Rock.
Reigns candidly shared his thoughts on the WWE’s storyline changes leading up to WrestleMania. Initially, it appeared he might face his cousin The Rock at the event, but plans pivoted to a match against Rhodes instead. When asked if he was disappointed by this last-minute switch, Reigns was unfazed, emphasizing his focus remained on being the main event and defending his championship:
“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 storyline had a dramatic arc, with Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially declaring he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This led many to believe The Rock would return as Reigns’ challenger. However, strong fan backlash prompted Rhodes to reverse course, triggering The Rock’s heel turn as “The Final Boss” and his subsequent on-screen alliance with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Roman Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, only for Rhodes to capture the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns in the main event on Night 2. Looking ahead, Traina questioned whether a dream match between Reigns and The Rock might still be in the cards. Reigns responded that the door remains open so long as fans show their passion and demand such a confrontation:
“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 unannounced WWE appearance at the recent Bad Blood event but has remained mostly absent since. With the upcoming WarGames match involving both new and original versions of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, fans are hopeful for another potential Rock sighting that might reignite a path to his showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Possible WWE Career
Boxer and media personality Tommy Fury has indicated a potential interest in pursuing a future within WWE. In a recent YouTube video chronicling his experience backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury showcased interactions with several WWE Superstars and expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of stepping into the wrestling ring:
“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 them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
The 25-year-old Fury comes from a family with a history connected to WWE; his older brother Tyson Fury, a former world heavyweight boxing champion, appeared in WWE matches and events, including a notable victory over Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019. Tyson even disrupted a Money in the Bank cash-in attempt at Clash at the Castle in 2022. Tommy Fury has carved his own path in professional boxing, boasting an undefeated 10-0 record and claiming a win over Jake Paul, who is now a key figure in WWE circles as Logan Paul’s brother and fellow Superstar.
Given these connections and Tommy’s growing popularity, WWE fans and insiders alike speculate that a potential WWE tenure could be a natural fit, especially with storylines that might involve the Paul brothers. A tag-team showdown featuring the Fury and Paul siblings could captivate mainstream and wrestling audiences alike.
NXT Star Oba Femi Absent Amid Uncertain Status
Reports have surfaced indicating that Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been conspicuously absent from recent NXT tapings and television appearances. According to Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage or in NXT programming since his defeat to Tony D’Angelo at the October 27 Halloween Havoc event, where he lost the North American Championship after a record 272-day reign.
Femi also suffered a loss in a rematch against D’Angelo at the event, and his current status within NXT remains unclear. Speculation ranges from a possible injury to a strategic creative break designed to help Femi regroup following consecutive losses.
Since debuting on television in April 2023, Femi made a formidable impact, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title in dominant fashion. His absence has raised questions about his future trajectory, with many analysts believing he remains a strong candidate to pursue the NXT Championship when he returns, potentially positioning him as a major contender to dethrone the current champion, Trick Williams.
Stay Tuned
These evolving stories highlight the dynamic nature of WWE’s ever-changing landscape. Fans can continue tracking Reigns’ ambitions, Tommy Fury’s exciting potential crossover into wrestling, and Oba Femi’s path forward as NXT gears up for its next phase of competition.
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