Roman Reigns on The Rock, Cody Rhodes & WrestleMania 40; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
Bleacher Report’s latest update from the WWE Universe covers key developments regarding Roman Reigns’ reflections on WrestleMania 40, boxer Tommy Fury hinting at a pro wrestling future with WWE, and rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and The Rock Match Prospects
During an interview on the SI Media podcast, Roman Reigns shared candid thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event experience, which originally saw a teased matchup against The Rock transition to a showdown with Cody Rhodes instead. When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns shrugged off the notion, emphasizing that being the main event and champion was what mattered most.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy everyone wanted to dance with… they’re trying to stop history from happening. It was the same task in hand for me regardless of the opponent,” Reigns explained.
The wrestling world saw some drama leading into WrestleMania 40 as Cody Rhodes initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship after winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, which led to speculation that The Rock would take the spot. A negative fan reaction prompted Rhodes to reverse course and challenge Reigns, culminating in The Rock turning heel, rebranding as “The Final Boss,” and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, but on Night 2 Cody Rhodes captured the WWE title from Reigns in a main event rematch.
When Kyle Traina of Sports Illustrated asked if a future match between The Rock and Reigns was possible, Reigns left the door open, stating that it would depend on fan interest and company direction.
“If the people want it and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said.
Notably, The Rock made an unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month, though his intentions remain unclear. With the ongoing feud between the new and original versions of The Bloodline unfolding on WWE programming, there is speculation that The Rock could reappear soon to build toward a highly anticipated clash against his cousin.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future Following Backstage Visit
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, hinted at possibly stepping into the wrestling world. After attending a WWE show in the United Kingdom during the company’s recent tour, Fury posted a YouTube video expressing admiration and gratitude for several WWE superstars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“This has been a great night… I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” he said.
Fury, who boasts an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and is known for defeating Jake Paul, follows in his brother Tyson’s footsteps to some degree. Tyson Fury famously had a WWE match in 2019 at Crown Jewel, defeating Braun Strowman by count-out. More recently, he disrupted Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in attempt at Clash at the Castle in 2022. Given Tommy Fury’s ties to the Paul family and his crossover appeal, WWE fans speculate a feud or partnership involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers — potentially Logan Paul currently with WWE — could generate mainstream buzz.
Oba Femi Reports Absence from NXT Following Title Losses
Oba Femi, a promising star in WWE’s NXT brand and former North American champion, has not appeared on television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select reported backstage rumors highlighting his absence from tapings over the last month, with no official explanation released.
Since debuting on NXT in April 2023, Femi climbed quickly with a strong run that included winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, holding it for a record-setting 272 days before dropping it to D’Angelo.
It is unclear whether his absence is due to a planned break, injury, or potential call-up to WWE’s main roster. Industry watchers think that when Femi returns, he could be positioned as a serious contender for the NXT Championship, possibly as a challenger to current titleholder Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and Ring Rust Radio for continued coverage of these stories and more from WWE’s exciting world.
Photo caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns after defeating Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024 (WWE/Getty Images).