Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Tommy Fury Considers WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report provides the latest updates from the WWE Universe, highlighting Roman Reigns’ thoughts on key figures The Rock and Cody Rhodes, potential WWE ambitions for boxer Tommy Fury, and recent rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi’s unexplained absence.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About The Rock and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40
During a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s Roman Reigns shared candid thoughts regarding his WrestleMania 40 main event opponents and the potential for a future showdown with The Rock.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock at WrestleMania 40, Reigns dismissed concerns about his opponent. “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," Reigns said, emphasizing that maintaining his championship status was the priority regardless of who stood across the ring.
The original booking for WrestleMania had Rhodes winning the men’s 2024 Royal Rumble but initially choosing not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, which opened the door for The Rock to step in. Following fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his stance, which led The Rock to turn heel—rebranding himself as The Final Boss and aligning with Reigns.
This alliance led to The Rock and Reigns defeating Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. However, Rhodes claimed the WWE title on Night 2, besting Reigns in the main event.
Traina then asked Reigns if a match against The Rock might happen in the future. Reigns indicated openness to the idea, contingent on fan interest: "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
Notably, The Rock made an unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has yet to clarify his intentions or reappear on WWE programming since. With the ongoing Bloodline saga culminating in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation is rife about The Rock’s potential re-involvement and a possible eventual clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Career Possibility
Amidst the wrestling news, British professional boxer Tommy Fury, brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, hinted at a potential future in WWE.
Posting a behind-the-scenes video from a recent WWE UK tour on his YouTube channel, Fury was seen mingling with top WWE talent like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. Expressing appreciation for the WWE roster and the company’s hospitality, Fury remarked, "I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?"
Tommy Fury, undefeated with a 10-0 boxing record and notably the only man to defeat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, appears intrigued by pro wrestling. His ties to the Paul family could facilitate intriguing storylines, especially a possible feud or tag team match involving Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar and former United States Champion.
Given Tyson Fury’s previous WWE involvement—including a match and a memorable incident preventing Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in—Tommy’s entry into WWE could attract mainstream attention and fresh matchups.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
On the NXT front, former North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from recent tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, according to Fightful Select.
Femi’s sudden absence comes after he suffered two significant defeats: dropping the North American Championship after a record 272-day reign and then losing the rematch at Halloween Havoc. The reasons behind his time off are unclear; it may be a strategic decision for a reset after the setbacks or perhaps an undisclosed injury.
After debuting on televised NXT in April 2023, Femi quickly made a name for himself by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. If and when he returns, he is widely viewed as a strong candidate to pursue the NXT Championship, possibly challenging current titleholder Trick Williams.
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