Wrestling News Update: Roman Reigns on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest buzz and updates from the WWE Universe, covering intriguing developments surrounding Roman Reigns, Tommy Fury’s WWE prospects, and the current status of NXT’s Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns sat down for an insightful interview with Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast, where he shed light on his WrestleMania 40 main event experience, particularly the shifting opponent lineup between Cody Rhodes and The Rock.
When asked if he was disappointed to ultimately face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock at WrestleMania 40, Reigns expressed a focused mindset:
"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… 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 saw Rhodes win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, initially declining to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, leading WWE to hint at a Rock vs. Reigns matchup. However, after negative fan reaction to this plan, Rhodes reversed his stance, prompting The Rock to turn heel as "The Final Boss" and align with Reigns. This culminated in The Rock and Reigns teaming up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, followed by Rhodes winning the WWE title from Reigns at the Night 2 main event.
Reigns also addressed the possibility of a future match with The Rock, suggesting that fan demand could drive WWE to make it happen:
"If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
The Rock notably made an unannounced return at the recent Bad Blood event, but his intentions have not yet been revealed. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring a burgeoning rivalry within The Bloodline, many fans speculate The Rock could return once more to escalate the family drama and possibly set the stage for a headline clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
Tommy Fury, known for his undefeated boxing record and as the younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has teased a potential future in professional wrestling with WWE.
Sharing a recent backstage video from WWE’s UK tour on YouTube, Tommy expressed enthusiasm and openness toward wrestling:
"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."
Tommy’s entry into WWE could be a compelling storyline considering his ties to the Paul family—Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar and former United States champion, is a key personality in the promotion, and a potential rivalry or tag team involving the Fury and Paul brothers could attract widespread interest.
His brother Tyson Fury previously participated in WWE’s Crown Jewel 2019 event and has made notable appearances over the years, including thwarting Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in attempt at Clash at the Castle in 2022. —
Oba Femi’s Absence From NXT Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from recent NXT tapings and broadcasts, sparking rumors in the wrestling community.
Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been seen backstage or featured on television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. This break comes after two significant losses — dropping the North American Championship to D’Angelo (ending his reign at a record 272 days) and losing a subsequent rematch at the same event.
The reasons for Femi’s hiatus remain unclear. It might be a strategic pause by WWE to allow him to regroup following these setbacks, or an indication of injury or plans for a main roster call-up. Whenever he returns, many insiders consider Femi a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, perhaps taking the title from Trick Williams.
Femi made an impactful climb since his NXT debut in April 2023, highlighted by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title, making him one of the most promising young stars in WWE’s developmental system.
Stay Tuned for More Wrestling News
Bleacher Report will continue tracking these stories and all the latest action from WWE and its talent roster. For deeper discussions, check out the newest episode of Ring Rust Radio, which covers these topics in detail along with other hot wrestling news.
Featured Image: Roman Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40, credit WWE/Getty Images.
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