Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and WrestleMania 40; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Star Oba Femi Absent from Recent Tapings
In the latest round of WWE Universe news, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxing star Tommy Fury hinted at a potential pro wrestling career with WWE, and reports emerged concerning the recent absence of former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi from NXT programming.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Prospects
Roman Reigns appeared on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, where he discussed the main event scenario leading up to WrestleMania 40. The Original Tribal Chief expressed that the identity of his opponent—whether The Rock or Cody Rhodes—was secondary to the fact that he was the main event and defending his championship.
Reigns commented, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It was the same task in hand for me” regardless of who was in front of him. This came after fan speculation and storyline changes saw Rhodes initially decline to challenge Reigns, opening the door for The Rock to step in, before shifting back to Rhodes.
The Rock and Reigns teamed up at WrestleMania 40 Night 1 to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, with Rhodes later defeating Reigns on Night 2 to capture the WWE Championship. Although the much-anticipated singles match between The Rock and Reigns did not happen, Reigns acknowledged the possibility of such a matchup in the future, signaling that fan interest could influence the company’s plans.
He said, “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 WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but left his intentions ambiguous. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series between the new and original Bloodline factions, many speculate The Rock could resurface to set the stage for future encounters.
Tommy Fury Signals Interest in WWE Wrestling Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, dropped hints about potentially pursuing a career in professional wrestling. Posting a YouTube video from a recent WWE UK tour, Fury shared footage of backstage interactions with WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, expressing enthusiasm about possibly wrestling one day.
He stated, “Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?” Tommy Fury currently boasts a perfect 10-0 professional boxing record and is known for his victory over Jake Paul. His ties to the Paul family and wrestling interest could see him cross paths with Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar, potentially sparking mainstream attention through a “Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers” storyline.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Meanwhile, recent reports from Fightful Select have noted that Oba Femi, who made a strong impact upon his NXT debut in 2023, has been absent from tapings for over a month. Since losing the North American Championship to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has not been seen on NXT television.
While reasons for his absence remain unclear—ranging from a possible injury or main roster call-up to a strategic break following consecutive losses—many expect Femi to return as a top contender, potentially targeting the NXT Championship and reviving his dominant run. Known for his athletic prowess from his college shot put career and his record-breaking 272-day title reign in NXT, Femi’s return is highly anticipated.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and WWE programming for the latest updates on these developments in the WWE Universe.