Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Bleacher Report brings fans the latest updates from the WWE universe, addressing key developments involving Roman Reigns, boxer-turned-possible wrestler Tommy Fury, and NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Comments on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and a Future Dream Match
In a recent interview on Sports Illustrated’s SI Media podcast, WWE’s reigning top star Roman Reigns spoke candidly about his experiences heading into WrestleMania 40, specifically addressing the main event matchups involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
When asked by host Jimmy Traina whether he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of his cousin and WWE legend The Rock, Reigns made it clear that his priority was simply being in the WrestleMania main event spotlight.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns stated. “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 buildup to WrestleMania 40 initially saw Cody Rhodes win the men’s 2024 Royal Rumble but declare he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the championship. This opened the door for The Rock to seemingly step in as champion challenger. However, fan backlash led to a reversal, with Rhodes ultimately contesting Reigns at the event’s conclusion. The Rock shifted to a heel persona as "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, while Rhodes captured the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding the much-anticipated matchup between Reigns and The Rock that did not materialize at WrestleMania 40, Reigns shared that such a dream match could still happen. He noted, “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 WWE appearance in October at Bad Blood but has yet to commit to a future match.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE Career
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of boxing icon Tyson Fury, has hinted at possible ambitions in the pro wrestling industry. In a YouTube video recorded backstage at a recent WWE show in the United Kingdom, Tommy expressed appreciation for WWE stars and the company itself.
“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,” he said. “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy Fury, 25, is undefeated in boxing with a 10-0 record and is notably the only boxer to have defeated YouTube star Jake Paul. Given Tyson Fury’s prior WWE involvement—including a match at Crown Jewel 2019 and memorable appearances—Tommy’s potential crossover to sports entertainment is intriguing. His connections to the Paul family also lay the groundwork for possible future WWE storylines, perhaps even a tag team showdown involving the Fury brothers versus the Paul brothers (including WWE Superstar Logan Paul).
Oba Femi’s Prolonged Absence From NXT Raises Questions
NXT fans have recently been concerned about the absence of former North American Champion Oba Femi, who has not appeared on NXT television since his rematch loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. According to Fightful Select, there have been no reports of Femi backstage at NXT tapings in the past month.
Femi made a strong impact since his televised debut in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. He held that title for a record-setting 272 days, but his recent double losses to D’Angelo have kept him off programming.
While the reasons behind his absence remain unclear—whether to recover from injury, recalibrate after setbacks, or in preparation for a main roster call-up—many expect Femi to return as a major contender. He would be a prime candidate to challenge for the NXT Championship and could be instrumental in future storylines, potentially targeting champion Trick Williams.
For ongoing wrestling news and analysis, listen to the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio.
Stay tuned as WWE storylines evolve and new stars emerge in the months ahead.