Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes, While Tommy Fury Eyes WWE; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
Bleacher Report brings the latest updates from the WWE universe, with insights from Roman Reigns on his WrestleMania 40 experience, boxer Tommy Fury hinting at a WWE future, and NXT rumors swirling around Oba Femi’s recent absence.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Prospective Match with The Rock
In a revealing interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about his experience headlining WrestleMania 40 and facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock. Asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns declared, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with.”
Reigns emphasized that his focus was on defending the WWE Championship and stopping anyone trying to “take us off the pinnacle,” regardless of the opponent. He acknowledged the dynamic lead-up to WrestleMania 40, noting how Rhodes initially declined to challenge him for the title despite winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, which seemed to open the door for The Rock to enter the picture.
Following fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his stance, which then led to The Rock turning heel and aligning with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” This alliance culminated in The Rock and Reigns teaming up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, only for Rhodes to dethrone Reigns for the WWE Championship on Night 2. Looking ahead, when asked if a Reigns vs. The Rock match might still happen, Reigns hinted it’s possible if the fans want it enough. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said, underscoring WWE’s responsiveness to fan demand.
The Rock’s recent unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood event sparked intrigue, though he has not appeared since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring two versions of The Bloodline, speculation is high that The Rock could re-emerge to build towards a future showdown with his cousin, Roman Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Teases Prospective WWE Career
Boxing star Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a potential WWE career following a recent backstage visit to a WWE UK show. In a YouTube video, Tommy expressed enthusiasm about his night among WWE Superstars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He remarked, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.” At 25, Fury remains undefeated in boxing with a 10-0 record and holds the distinction of being the only man to defeat Jake Paul.
Tyson Fury has dabbled in WWE previously, notably defeating Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019 and making waves at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022. Tommy’s connection to the Paul family, combined with his boxing credentials and charisma, could make him a compelling adversary for Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. A potential tag-team scenario pitting the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention and broaden WWE’s audience.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
NXT star Oba Femi, the former North American Champion, has been notably absent from recent NXT tapings, sparking rumors about his current status. According to Fightful Select, Femi has not been backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at NXT Halloween Havoc on October 27. A dominant performer since his televised debut in April 2023, Femi captured the NXT Breakout Tournament and cashed in his title opportunity to defeat Dragon Lee. He held the North American Championship for a record 272 days before dropping the belt to D’Angelo last month, followed by a loss in the rematch at Halloween Havoc.
His sudden absence could be a strategy to let the sting of consecutive losses subside, or it might signal a main roster call-up or injury recovery. When Femi returns, many expect him to vie for the NXT Championship, perhaps directly challenging current titleholder Trick Williams.
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