Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Considers WWE Future; NXT’s Oba Femi Reportedly Absent
In the latest buzz from the world of professional wrestling, several notable stories have emerged involving WWE’s Roman Reigns, boxer-turned-wrestling prospect Tommy Fury, and NXT’s Oba Femi. Here’s a detailed look at the recent developments:
Roman Reigns Shares His Thoughts on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Potential Future Clash with The Rock
During an in-depth interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast, Roman Reigns opened up about his experiences and mindset around WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes in the main event instead of a much-anticipated match against his real-life cousin, The Rock. Speaking to host Jimmy Traina, Reigns emphasized that his primary focus was on being in the WrestleMania main event regardless of the opponent.
Reigns stated, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… They’re trying to stop history from happening, but the task was the same: defending the title.” The original plan appeared to shift after Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, initially choosing not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship and seemingly paving the way for The Rock to step in. However, following negative fan reactions, Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock turned heel to align with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes captured the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Traina also asked Reigns if a future match against The Rock remains possible. Reigns replied that it could happen if the fans vocally demand it, noting WWE’s attention to audience desires: “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.” The Rock has made sporadic appearances this year, including an unannounced return at the Bad Blood event, but has yet to clearly state his wrestling future. With the upcoming WarGames match involving variations of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, speculation is mounting that The Rock could reappear to build toward a potential showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Interest in WWE Career After Backstage Appearance
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, hinted at a possible WWE future after visiting a WWE show during the company’s recent UK tour. Fury shared a YouTube video from backstage, expressing gratitude toward WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, while saying he looks forward to “possibly climbing through those ropes one day.”
The 25-year-old Fury, undefeated in professional boxing with a record of 10-0, is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, who along with his brother Logan is involved in WWE storylines. Given his boxing pedigree and connections, Tommy Fury could be a compelling prospect for WWE, possibly creating compelling narratives with the Paul brothers or others.
Oba Femi Absent from NXT Following Recent Losses
Reports indicate that former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been missing from NXT tapings for about a month. Following his surprising title loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27 and a subsequent rematch defeat, Femi has been off television, leading to speculation about his status.
Since debuting on NXT in April 2023, Femi quickly climbed the ranks, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and holding the North American Championship for a record-breaking 272 days. His recent absence could be a strategic move by NXT officials to allow him to regroup after his losses, or possibly an indication of injury or preparation for a main roster call-up. Fans await his return, as Femi is seen as a strong candidate to challenge for the NXT Championship in the near future.
For wrestling fans eager to stay updated, Bleacher Report and other outlets continue to provide comprehensive coverage of WWE talent news, rumors, and match insights.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the latest wrestling news and analysis.