Latest WWE Updates: Roman Reigns on The Rock & Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report brings you the most recent news and rumors swirling around the WWE Universe, including Roman Reigns’ insights on WrestleMania 40, potential WWE aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury, and the mysterious absence of former North American Champion Oba Femi from NXT programming.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Potential Rock Match
During a recent episode of the SI Media podcast hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the lead-up to WrestleMania 40 and his feelings about facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the main event.
Reigns revealed that regardless of whether he faced Rhodes or The Rock, his primary focus was simply being the center of attention and defending the WWE Championship. He stated:
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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 WrestleMania 40 storyline was complex: Rhodes initially won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but declared he would not challenge Reigns for the title at WrestleMania, opening the door for The Rock’s anticipated return and match. Fan backlash prompted a dramatic reversal, turning The Rock heel and allying him with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” The Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, while Rhodes reclaimed the WWE Championship by beating Reigns on Night 2. Addressing the question of whether a Reigns vs. The Rock match might still happen in the future, Reigns said:
“I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something… 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 appearance at last month’s Bad Blood event but has not yet signaled any clear intentions about future WWE storylines. With the upcoming Survivor Series featuring a WarGames match between the new and original Bloodline factions, there’s speculation that The Rock could return to WWE action soon.
Boxer Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, dropped hints this week about a potential future in WWE. Fury posted a YouTube video showing him backstage at a WWE show during the UK tour, where he interacted with top WWE stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In his video, Fury expressed enthusiasm about the experience and teased the possibility of wrestling in the future:
“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.”
Tommy Fury holds a 10-0 professional boxing record and is notable for being one of the few to defeat Jake Paul. Given his connections to the Paul family and his own sports background, WWE could potentially position him as an opponent for Logan Paul or even develop a tag team storyline featuring the Fury brothers vs. the Paul brothers. WWE appears to be keeping the door open for Fury’s entry into pro wrestling.
NXT Update: Oba Femi Absent Following Key Losses
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been noticeably absent from the NXT spotlight for the past month. Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been seen backstage at recent tapings since losing his title and a subsequent rematch to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reason behind Femi’s absence remains unclear—whether it’s due to injury, a planned main roster call-up, or simply giving him time off to regroup after two significant defeats is unknown. Since his NXT debut in April 2023, Femi made a strong impression by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship, a title he held for a record-setting 272 days.
WWE creative could be holding off on featuring Femi to allow the impact of his losses to fade before potentially positioning him for a future NXT Championship pursuit, perhaps even targeting current champion Trick Williams.
For more wrestling news and analysis, tune into Ring Rust Radio for all the hot topics and developments from around the WWE world.
Source: Bleacher Report, Ringside News, Fightful Select, Sports Illustrated podcast interviews