Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and NXT Rumors Surrounding Oba Femi
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE universe, including insights from Roman Reigns, potential crossover aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury, and the current status of NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Possible Future Match with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event opponents, Cody Rhodes and The Rock. The discussion, which began around the 31:45 mark of the video, revealed Reigns’ mindset during the build-up to WWE’s biggest annual event.
When asked if he felt disappointed about facing Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns was clear that it didn’t matter to him who was in the ring, as long as he was in the main event spotlight. "I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with," Reigns said, emphasizing the challenge he perceived regardless of the opponent. He described the common goal shared by all contenders: to stop history from being made and to unseat him from the top.
Originally, after Cody Rhodes’ win at the 2024 Royal Rumble, he announced he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, indicating The Rock would take that spot. However, following fan backlash to this switch, Rhodes reversed his stance, prompting a heel turn from The Rock, who became "The Final Boss" and aligned with Reigns.
This alignment led to The Rock and Reigns teaming up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins in Night 1’s main event at WrestleMania 40. On Night 2, Rhodes defeated Reigns to capture the WWE Championship, denying fans the anticipated Reigns vs. Rock showdown.
Regarding a potential future match against The Rock, Reigns suggested it would depend heavily on fan demand. "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen," he said. The Rock’s unexpected return at last month’s Bad Blood event, though brief and without stated intentions, has fans speculating on a possible renewed feud between the two cousins.
With the "new" and "original" Bloodline factions set to collide in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, many expect this event could be an opportune moment for The Rock to make another appearance and possibly reignite the storyline leading to a future clash with Roman Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE Career
Tommy Fury, professional boxer and younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a possible future in professional wrestling. On Sunday, Fury shared a YouTube video from behind the scenes at a WWE event during the company’s recent UK tour.
In the video, Fury expressed his appreciation for WWE Superstars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, saying: "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 boasts an undefeated record of 10-0 and is notably the only boxer to have defeated influencer-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Given his connection to the Paul family and his boxing pedigree, a WWE role could be a natural fit, especially considering Logan Paul’s current status as a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. Potential storylines involving the "Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers" could attract mainstream attention and expand WWE’s audience reach.
His brother Tyson Fury previously had a brief WWE appearance, most notably winning a match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 in Saudi Arabia and famously knocking out Austin Theory at Clash at the Castle 2022, preventing Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT programming and tapings for the past month. Sources from Fightful Select have noted no sightings or mentions of Femi since his defeat to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi’s absence has left fans wondering about his status. While no official word has been given, the break could be a strategy by NXT management to allow Femi time to reset following two significant losses: his loss of the North American title after a record 272-day reign and a subsequent rematch defeat.
Femi made an impressive rise since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship soon after. His collegiate background as a University of Alabama shot put star has contributed to his power-based in-ring style.
Speculation remains that Femi might be recovering from injury, preparing for a main roster call-up, or being kept off television momentarily to build future storylines. Upon his return, Femi is viewed as a strong contender for the NXT Championship and a credible challenger to current champion Trick Williams.
Stay tuned for more updates and analysis from the world of professional wrestling on Bleacher Report.