Roman Reigns Talks The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE, and NXT Rumors Surround Oba Femi
Bleacher Report brings WWE fans up to speed with the latest news and insights from the WWE Universe, including Roman Reigns’ reflections on WrestleMania 40, Tommy Fury’s budding interest in professional wrestling, and speculation around Oba Femi’s recent absence from NXT programming.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Potential Match with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently sat down with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast to discuss his experience leading up to and during WrestleMania 40, alongside addressing talks about facing The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
When asked about the shifting landscape of the WrestleMania 40 main event—initially seeming set to be Reigns vs. The Rock but ultimately being Reigns vs. Rhodes—Reigns was clear on his perspective. He expressed that it made no difference to him who he faced, as long as he was in the main event spotlight.
“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. "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."
The storyline surrounding WrestleMania 40 saw Rhodes win the men’s Royal Rumble and initially decline to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, favoring a match with The Rock instead. However, fan backlash led to Rhodes reversing course, while The Rock turned heel, earning the new moniker "The Final Boss" and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, before Rhodes claimed the WWE title from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Looking ahead, Reigns addressed the possibility of a future showdown with The Rock. “[If] our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, we’re a company who—we’re not being dictated to,” Reigns explained. “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 return to WWE last month at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his intentions or reappear since. With the Bloodline and its variations set for a WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation swirls around a potential Rock vs. Reigns encounter building from that event.
Boxer Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE Future
Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, teased the possibility of venturing into professional wrestling with WWE. Sharing footage from WWE’s recent UK tour on YouTube, Tommy expressed enthusiasm and appreciation for WWE talent and the company itself.
"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," said Tommy Fury.
Tommy, currently undefeated in professional boxing at 10-0 and known for beating Jake Paul, might be well positioned for crossover appeal in WWE, especially given the history between the Fury and Paul families. His older brother Tyson Fury made an appearance at WWE Crown Jewel 2019 and infamously knocked out Austin Theory at Clash at the Castle 2022, preventing a Money in the Bank cash-in.
A potential feud or tag match involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could generate significant mainstream interest for WWE’s audience.
Oba Femi’s Absence Sparks Rumors in NXT
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings in recent weeks following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select reported no backstage sightings or mentions of Femi since that time, though no official explanation has been offered. This could be a strategic break for the young star to reset after two high-profile losses.
Femi’s run began impressively with a dominant streak after debuting in April 2023, highlighted by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and later capturing the North American title with a record 272-day reign. His recent setbacks, including losing the title and a rematch to D’Angelo, mark his first televised defeats.
Speculation surrounds whether Femi’s absence is due to injury, preparation for a main roster call-up, or simply a storyline-driven hiatus until the impact of his losses diminishes. When he returns, many see Femi as a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially positioned as the wrestler to dethrone Trick Williams.
For fans interested in diving deeper into these topics and more, the latest "Ring Rust Radio" podcast episode covers the hottest wrestling discussions and breaking news.
Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images – Roman Reigns and The Rock after their WrestleMania 40 match, April 6, 2024, Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia
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