Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes, & WrestleMania 40; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
By Mike Chiari — Bleacher Report, November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, Tommy Fury’s potential WWE aspirations, and recent rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Possible Future Matches with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast, hosted by Jimmy Traina, where he shared candid thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 experience and the evolving dynamics with top-tier WWE stars The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns revealed that he was indifferent to who he faced in the WrestleMania 40 main event—as long as he remained in that spotlight. Speaking about the switching back and forth between The Rock and Rhodes as his opponents, Reigns stated:
“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. They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
The original plan seemed to be a championship match between Reigns and The Rock for WrestleMania 40. However, after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially claimed he wouldn’t challenge Reigns, WWE appeared to pivot toward The Rock as the title challenger. The decision received mixed reactions from fans, prompting Rhodes to reverse his stance days later. This shift led to The Rock’s heel turn, adopting the moniker “The Final Boss” and forming an alliance with Reigns.
On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The next night, Rhodes clinched the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns. Despite fans’ anticipation, the anticipated Reigns vs. Rock match did not take place at the event.
When asked about the possibility of a future match with The Rock, Reigns expressed openness, emphasizing the power of fan demand:
“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. We have a vision for where we’re trying to go, but we know who the consumers are. We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people.”
He added:
“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 return at last month’s Bad Blood event but has not clarified his future plans since. With an impending WarGames match pitting the new and original Bloodline factions against each other at Survivor Series, many speculate it could be the perfect occasion to reintroduce The Rock and potentially set the stage for a marquee showdown with Roman Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE
British professional boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a possible move into WWE following a recent visit backstage during WWE’s UK tour. Fury posted a video on YouTube reflecting on the experience and the welcoming environment he encountered:
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love. 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. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
At 25 years old, Fury is undefeated in boxing, boasting a 10-0 record and remaining the only fighter to defeat social media rival Jake Paul. His older brother, Tyson Fury, has some WWE history, having participated in a match at Crown Jewel 2019 and infamous incidents at WWE events including the 2022 Clash at the Castle.
Given Tommy Fury’s ties to the Paul family and his rising fame, WWE could potentially position him as an opponent to Logan Paul, who has become an established WWE Superstar and a former United States Champion. A tag team match pitting the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers could attract mainstream audiences and generate significant buzz if WWE chooses to pursue this direction.
NXT Star Oba Femi Absent from Recent Tapings
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been missing from WWE’s NXT tapings for the past month. Since losing his North American Championship to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has not been seen on the NXT roster.
Fightful Select sources indicate there has been no indication of Femi’s presence backstage at recent filming sessions. The reasons behind this absence remain unclear, but speculation ranges from a temporary storyline break to a possible main roster call-up or even injury.
Femi’s rise has been noteworthy since his televised debut in April 2023, a run highlighted by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. His championship reign lasted an impressive 272 days before being ended by D’Angelo.
WWE might be holding Femi off TV to let the impact of his losses settle or to prepare him for the next phase of his career. When he returns, many believe he will be a top contender for the NXT Championship, potentially taking the title from current champion Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for more updates on WWE and pro wrestling news as it develops.