Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Considers WWE Career; Oba Femi’s Absence in NXT Sparks Speculation
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest developments from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns, Tommy Fury’s interest in wrestling, and updates on NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Discusses WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Possible Future Clash with The Rock
During a recent appearance on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event opponents, The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns revealed he was unfazed by the uncertainty surrounding who he would face in the marquee match. "It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with," Reigns said. He characterized the challengers as adversaries aiming to “stop history from happening” and to “take us off the pinnacle,” emphasizing that his focus was on defending his title regardless of the opponent.
Originally, after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, it seemed likely he would challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. However, Rhodes initially declined to do so, setting the stage for The Rock to step in as the challenger. Following fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his stance, while The Rock turned heel, adopting the persona of “The Final Boss” and forming an alliance with Reigns.
The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. On Night 2, Rhodes defeated Reigns to capture the WWE Championship. Although the anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock match did not occur at WrestleMania, Reigns left the door open for a future clash, saying, “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.” He acknowledged WWE’s responsiveness to fan enthusiasm and indicated that a match with The Rock could be arranged if the demand is strong enough.
The Rock made a surprise return to WWE programming at last month’s Bad Blood event but has not clarified his intentions or appeared since. With the upcoming WarGames match featuring both new and original members of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, The Rock’s return could be imminent, potentially igniting his long-anticipated showdown with Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Expresses Interest in WWE
Tommy Fury, the unbeaten professional boxer and younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, teased the possibility of entering the WWE world. Posting a video on YouTube from backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event, Fury interacted with top WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In the video, Fury stated, “I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?” Tyson Fury previously engaged with WWE in 2019, securing a count-out victory against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel and famously knocking out Austin Theory at WWE Clash at the Castle in 2022, preventing Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in.
Given Tommy Fury’s undefeated boxing record (10-0) and his victory over Jake Paul, as well as his connections to the Paul family—Logan Paul is an active WWE Superstar—there is considerable speculation about potential storylines involving the Fury and Paul brothers. Such rivalries or tag team matchups could attract mainstream attention and broaden WWE’s audience.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT programming and tapings since late October, following his defeat to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc. Fightful Select reported no backstage sightings of Femi since that time, though no official reason has been disclosed.
Femi, a University of Alabama alum known for his shot put background, debuted on NXT television in April 2023. He quickly made an impact by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His impressive title reign lasted a record 272 days before he was bested by D’Angelo.
Femi also lost a subsequent rematch at Halloween Havoc, after which he disappeared from the TV schedule. While speculation ranges from possible injury to preparation for a main roster call-up, it is also plausible that WWE is allowing Femi time off television to regroup after consecutive losses.
If and when he returns, Femi is expected to be a strong contender for the NXT Championship, positioning him as a key player in the brand’s future.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continuing coverage of WWE news, rumors, and exclusive insights from inside the wrestling world.