Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, while Tommy Fury Eyes WWE, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates and insider news from the WWE Universe, including insights from WWE superstar Roman Reigns, boxing sensation Tommy Fury’s potential wrestling interest, and speculation surrounding NXT talent Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns shared candid thoughts about the lead-up to WrestleMania 40, including his matches against Cody Rhodes and the ever-enticing possibility of facing his cousin and WWE icon, The Rock.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock in the WrestleMania 40 main event, Reigns noted it did not bother him as long as he was in the spotlight:
"It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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."
Reigns’ comments reference the behind-the-scenes flip-flopping regarding who would challenge him for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. After Cody Rhodes’ triumph in the 2024 Royal Rumble, he initially declined the title shot against Reigns, paving the way for The Rock potentially entering the picture. However, negative fan reactions to that scenario led Rhodes to reverse his decision, ultimately resulting in a storyline where The Rock turned heel as “The Final Boss” aligning with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, the collaboration between Reigns and The Rock led to a Night 1 victory over Rhodes and Seth Rollins. But on Night 2, Rhodes defeated Reigns to capture the WWE Championship, delaying the much-anticipated Rock vs. Reigns singles match.
Addressing whether a future match with The Rock is possible, Reigns emphasized:
"If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
The Rock, who made an unexpected WWE return at the recent Bad Blood event, has remained absent since, but with the upcoming WarGames match featuring different Bloodline factions at Survivor Series, speculation is rife about his potential involvement and teasing a future showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
Outside the wrestling ring, British boxer Tommy Fury has dropped hints about potentially stepping into the WWE world.
During WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury shared a YouTube video showcasing his backstage visits with WWE superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. He expressed gratitude and enthusiasm about the experience:
“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.”
Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who famously appeared in WWE’s Crown Jewel event in 2019, boasts a professional boxing record of 10-0 and is notably the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul.
Given his existing connections with the Paul family, Tommy could be positioned as a compelling future WWE rival to Logan Paul, who is an active WWE superstar and former United States Champion. This opens the door to potentially high-profile storylines involving the Fury and Paul brothers that could captivate both boxing and wrestling audiences.
Oba Femi’s Mysterious Absence from NXT Raises Questions
NXT fans have recently noticed the absence of promising talent Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, who has not appeared on NXT programming or backstage tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo in the October 27 Halloween Havoc event.
Fightful Select reports that Femi has been off NXT television for about a month, though no official word on the reason has been offered. This hiatus follows two notable losses: dropping the North American title to D’Angelo after a record 272-day reign and subsequently losing a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
Some speculate that Femi might be taking time off to recalibrate after these setbacks. Alternatively, he could be preparing for a main roster call-up or managing a minor injury.
If and when Femi returns, many consider him a strong candidate to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially positioning him as the rightful contender to dethrone current titleholder Trick Williams.
In Summary
Roman Reigns remains focused on his championship reign and the legacy he aims to build, while keeping fans hopeful for a future marquee clash with The Rock. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury’s backstage visits suggest the boundaries between boxing and professional wrestling continue to blur, as WWE seeks fresh crossovers and mainstream appeal. Lastly, Oba Femi’s unexplained absence from NXT keeps fans and insiders guessing about his next move within WWE’s developmental system.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for ongoing wrestling news, updates, and expert analysis from the WWE world.
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