Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Spot; NXT Rumors on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari – Bleacher Report, November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, covering insights from Roman Reigns about WrestleMania 40, Tommy Fury’s potential interest in WWE, and recent rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and The Rock vs Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns opened up about the main event scene at WrestleMania 40 during an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina. When asked whether he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the WrestleMania main event, Reigns made it clear that his priority was simply being in the spotlight, regardless of the 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 explained (via Ringside News). “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.”
The road to WrestleMania 40 was marked by unexpected twists. After Cody Rhodes won the men’s 2024 Royal Rumble match, he initially said he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, fueling speculation that The Rock would fill that role. However, fan backlash led Rhodes to reverse his position, and The Rock turned heel, adopting the moniker “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns.
The duo of The Rock and Roman Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes overcame Reigns to capture the WWE Championship on Night 2. Looking forward, Reigns addressed the possibility of facing The Rock in the ring, emphasizing fan enthusiasm as a key factor. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said.
The Rock made an unannounced appearance at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has yet to clarify his WWE future. With the upcoming WarGames match featuring new and original Bloodline factions at Survivor Series, speculation mounts that The Rock could reemerge to start building toward a high-profile bout with his cousin Roman Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential WWE Career
Boxer Tommy Fury recently hinted that he might explore a career in professional wrestling with WWE. Posting a backstage vlog from a WWE UK tour stop, Fury shared his excitement about interacting with top WWE talent including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them… Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day,” Fury said (via Ringside News).
Tommy Fury, 25, is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, the former world heavyweight boxing champion who had a brief WWE stint, famously defeating Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019. Tommy has built his own boxing reputation, holding an unbeaten 10-0 record and standing out as the only boxer to defeat YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul.
Given the connections and rivalries involving the Paul brothers—Logan Paul being an active WWE Superstar—Tommy Fury’s potential crossover into WWE could attract broader mainstream interest. WWE may consider capitalizing on a “Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers” storyline to boost fan engagement.
Oba Femi’s Recent Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
NXT’s former North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen on NXT programming or backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, according to sources at Fightful Select (reported by Ringside News).
After debuting in April 2023, Femi quickly made a name for himself by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, holding the title a record 272 days without a televised loss. However, he recently suffered two consecutive defeats to D’Angelo, including the title loss and a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
His current absence might be a strategic move by NXT officials to allow Femi to regroup after the setbacks. Alternatively, it could indicate preparations for a main roster call-up or a break due to injury. When he returns, Femi is widely viewed as a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, possibly aiming to dethrone Trick Williams.
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Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock after their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024, Philadelphia. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)