Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Involvement; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe received some intriguing updates this week as Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on recent major matches and potential future clashes, while boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a possible venture into professional wrestling. Meanwhile, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent NXT events, sparking speculation about his status.
Roman Reigns Talks WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns opened up in a recent interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast about the lead-up to and aftermath of WrestleMania 40, specifically reflecting on his main event opponents and the possibility of a future showdown with his real-life cousin, The Rock.
Reigns commented on the fluctuating plans WWE had concerning whether he would face The Rock or Cody Rhodes in the event’s main event. When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns emphasized that he was simply focused on being in the main event, stating:
"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 is. They are trying to stop history from happening."
The storyline had several twists, as Rhodes initially won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but declared he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This apparent setup for The Rock to challenge Reigns led to fan backlash, prompting Rhodes to reverse course. The Rock then turned heel, adopting the persona of "The Final Boss" and allied with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes capturing the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2’s main event.
Addressing whether a Reigns vs. Rock match might still happen, Reigns said the decision would largely depend on fan interest:
"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 an unannounced return at last month’s Bad Blood pay-per-view but has yet to clarify his intentions or reappear on WWE programming.
With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring a battle between different iterations of The Bloodline, there’s speculation that this could provide an ideal arena for The Rock to return and rekindle a potential rivalry or partnership with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, has teased the possibility of pursuing a future in professional wrestling. Sharing a video on YouTube this past Sunday, Fury gave fans a glimpse backstage at a recent WWE show during the company’s UK tour.
He expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown by WWE and WWE Superstars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and hinted at an interest in "possibly climbing through the ropes one day," suggesting an openness to eventually competing in WWE.
Tommy Fury, currently undefeated in professional boxing with a record of 10-0, is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. His connection to the Paul family and status as a boxer could make him a compelling opponent for Logan Paul, who is an active WWE Superstar and former United States champion. This prospect raises the intriguing possibility of a "Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers" storyline that could attract a broader mainstream audience.
His brother Tyson previously dabbled in WWE, wrestling one match in 2019 and famously knocking out Austin Theory at Clash at the Castle in 2022. —
Oba Femi’s Unexpected Absence from NXT
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been missing from NXT tapings for roughly a month, leading to rumors concerning his current status. According to reports from Fightful Select, there has been no indication of Femi’s backstage presence since his loss at Halloween Havoc on October 27 to Tony D’Angelo.
Since debuting on televised NXT in April 2023, Femi enjoyed a dominant run, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. His reign lasted an impressive 272 days before falling to D’Angelo, followed by a loss in a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
The reasons behind Femi’s absence remain unclear. It could be a strategic television hiatus to allow him to regroup following consecutive losses, could indicate injury, or possibly hint at a forthcoming main roster call-up. Many believe Femi still has significant potential in WWE and could become a major player pursuing the NXT Championship, perhaps poised to dethrone current champion Trick Williams in due course.
Looking Ahead
As WWE storylines continue to evolve, all eyes remain on Roman Reigns’ status and potential encounters with The Rock, Tommy Fury’s next moves, and the future of rising NXT star Oba Femi. With Survivor Series and various upcoming events, the WWE Universe will no doubt see plenty of surprises.
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