Roman Reigns on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury’s WWE Aspirations, and NXT Updates on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
As the WWE Universe continues to buzz with excitement following WrestleMania 40 and recent developments in the world of professional wrestling, Bleacher Report brings you the latest insights from inside the squared circle. This week, Roman Reigns shared his perspective on a potential match against The Rock and his WrestleMania 40 experience facing Cody Rhodes. Additionally, boxing star Tommy Fury teased a possible future in WWE, and rumors swirl around NXT’s Oba Femi following his recent absence.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and The Rock Rivalry
In a candid interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about the evolving WrestleMania 40 main event scene and his thoughts on facing either The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
WrestleMania 40 had initially built anticipation around a potential showdown between Reigns and The Rock, but after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble, plans shifted. Rhodes initially announced that he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, seeming to clear the path for The Rock. However, negative fan reactions prompted a change, leading to The Rock turning heel as "The Final Boss" and aligning with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes reclaimed the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. When asked if he felt disappointment facing Rhodes over The Rock, Reigns remained unfazed, stating, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It didn’t matter who it is. They are trying to stop history from happening… so it was the same task in hand for me.”
Reigns did not rule out a future match against The Rock, emphasizing WWE’s responsiveness to fan passion. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” Reigns said. The Rock surprised fans with an unannounced return at the Bad Blood event last month but has yet to clarify his future plans.
With WWE’s big WarGames clash featuring the new and original versions of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, speculation is mounting that The Rock may re-enter the spotlight, potentially building toward a historic encounter with his cousin Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Career Possibility
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, dropped hints this week about a potential future in professional wrestling with WWE.
In a YouTube video uploaded on Sunday, Fury shared backstage moments from WWE’s recent UK tour, where he mingled with top Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them… 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,” Fury remarked.
Tommy Fury, 25, boasts a 10-0 boxing record and famously handed Jake Paul his first professional loss. Given his relationship with the Paul family and WWE Superstar Logan Paul’s current prominence, a future wrestling storyline involving the Fury and Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention.
His brother Tyson Fury previously worked with WWE, notably securing a victory over Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and making a memorable appearance at Clash at the Castle by disrupting Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been noticeably absent from WWE’s NXT programming for the past month, igniting rumors regarding his status within the company.
According to Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage at recent NXT tapings following his defeat in a rematch against Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reasons for his absence remain unclear, with possibilities ranging from injury recovery to a strategic television hiatus.
Since his April 2023 debut, Femi made a strong impression by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship with a record 272-day reign before dropping the title in recent months. Despite setbacks, Femi remains a compelling contender for the NXT Championship and could be poised for a main roster promotion or a fresh storyline upon return.
For continued coverage on these stories and more, including the latest from Raw, SummerSlam predictions, and wrestling star rankings, stay tuned to Bleacher Report’s dedicated wrestling section.
Listen to the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio for in-depth discussions on current wrestling topics.