Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, WrestleMania 40, While Tommy Fury Eyes WWE and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
In the ever-evolving world of professional wrestling, several storylines and real-life developments keep fans buzzing. Recently, Roman Reigns spoke candidly about his WrestleMania 40 main event opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a foray into WWE, and NXT star Oba Femi’s absence has sparked speculation. Here is the latest from the WWE Universe.
Roman Reigns Discusses WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns appeared on the Sports Illustrated podcast, hosted by Jimmy Traina, and provided insight into the lead-up to WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes instead of the originally speculated clash with his cousin, The Rock.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, who is considered a legendary figure and "The Original Tribal Chief," Reigns was clear that his focus was solely on the main event status and the championship defense.
"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 was. They are trying to stop history from happening," Reigns explained.
Following Cody Rhodes’ surprise win at the 2024 Royal Rumble, Rhodes initially announced he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship. With that, The Rock seemed the natural contender. However, due to negative fan reaction to this sudden switch, Rhodes reversed his decision, setting up a twist where The Rock turned heel, adopting the moniker "The Final Boss" and aligning himself with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Roman Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, but Rhodes rebounded by capturing the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2 in a much-talked-about main event.
Questioned about the possibility of a future Rock vs. Reigns match that fans have long desired, Reigns acknowledged it’s feasible, provided the fan base makes their voice heard loudly.
"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… 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 return at the recent WWE event Bad Blood but has remained absent since, leaving fans to wonder whether he’ll reappear soon, potentially at the upcoming Survivor Series WarGames match, where the new and original Bloodline factions are set to collide.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
Tommy Fury—a 25-year-old undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury—has dropped hints about an interest in joining WWE.
During a backstage visit to WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury posted a video showering praise on WWE stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. Reflecting on the experience, Fury remarked:
"So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete… 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."
With his significant boxing success, including a notable win over social media personality Jake Paul, Tommy Fury has a rising profile. Moreover, his family ties and past WWE involvement of Tyson Fury add weight to rumors that WWE could be interested in signing him.
Given Logan Paul’s current status as a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion, a potential feud or collaboration between the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
NXT fans have noticed the absence of former North American Champion Oba Femi from recent tapings and programming.
According to Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. While the exact reason remains undisclosed, it may be a strategic pause following his first on-screen defeats in NXT.
After debuting in April 2023, Femi had a dominant run that included winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. He held the title for a record 272 days before dropping it to D’Angelo.
Whether Femi’s absence is due to injury, looming promotion to WWE’s main roster, or a storyline reset is yet to be determined. Upon return, he is positioned as a strong contender for the NXT Championship and a logical challenger to Trick Williams.
Looking Ahead
The WWE landscape continues to evolve with the legacy of The Rock and Roman Reigns, potential crossover stars like Tommy Fury, and emerging talents in NXT like Oba Femi. Fans can expect more thrilling developments as WWE gears toward upcoming marquee events such as Survivor Series and beyond.
For ongoing updates and analysis, stay tuned to Bleacher Report and catch the latest episodes of Ring Rust Radio for in-depth wrestling discussions.
Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock celebrate their tag team victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024, Philadelphia. Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images.