Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Tommy Fury Considers WWE, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report provides the latest updates from the WWE Universe, highlighting Roman Reigns’ thoughts on recent high-profile matches, boxer Tommy Fury’s possible venture into professional wrestling, and rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi’s current status.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40: The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and Future Prospects
During a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns shared candid insights about his WrestleMania 40 main event experiences and potential future encounters. Throughout the build-up to WrestleMania 40, WWE appeared uncertain whether Reigns would face The Rock or Cody Rhodes. Reigns expressed that, regardless of the opponent, he was focused on being the main event and defending his championship.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “They’re trying to stop history from happening. They’re trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
Initially, after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he announced he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This stirred speculation that The Rock would face Reigns instead. However, after a mixed fan response, Rhodes reversed his decision, leading to The Rock turning heel as "The Final Boss" and teaming with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns triumphed over Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes reclaiming the WWE title by defeating Reigns on Night 2. When asked about a potential future match with The Rock, Reigns left the door open, emphasizing fan influence on WWE’s decisions. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock returned unannounced at WWE’s Bad Blood in October but has not indicated further plans. With both versions of The Bloodline set to clash in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, anticipation is growing for another Rock appearance, possibly setting the stage for a family encounter in the ring.
Tommy Fury Teases Interest in WWE Wrestling Career
British professional boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at exploring opportunities in WWE following a backstage visit during the company’s recent United Kingdom tour. In a YouTube video, Fury showed interactions with WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Big up to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” Fury remarked.
Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, holds an undefeated boxing record of 10-0 and is notable for being Jake Paul’s only opponent to defeat him. Tyson Fury previously engaged with WWE in 2019 with a match bout at Crown Jewel and made a memorable impact at Clash at the Castle in 2022 by knocking out Austin Theory from the audience.
Given Tommy’s familial connections and boxing pedigree, WWE could envision intriguing storylines involving him, potentially in a feud or alliance against Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar and former United States champion. The prospect of a “Paul brothers vs. Fury brothers” rivalry might attract significant mainstream attention.
Oba Femi’s Mysterious Absence from NXT Programming
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not appeared on NXT television or backstage at tapings for over a month. According to Fightful Select, Femi has been absent since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at the Halloween Havoc event on October 27. The reason behind his absence remains unclear. It may be a strategic decision by WWE to give Femi a reset following consecutive significant losses, or possibly due to injury concerns. Femi made a strong impact in NXT since his debut in April 2023 by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record 272 days before D’Angelo ended it last month.
If and when Femi returns, he is considered a top contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially positioning him as the ideal competitor to dethrone current champion Trick Williams.
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Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock after their victory against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins during Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 6, 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)