Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes Matchups; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Debut; Rumors Surround NXT’s Oba Femi
In the latest WWE news updates, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his encounters with both The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer Tommy Fury expressed interest in pursuing professional wrestling, and NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence sparked speculation.
Roman Reigns Comments on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and Future Prospects with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast, hosted by Jimmy Traina, where he opened up about the main event situation at WrestleMania 40. Reigns was asked whether he felt disappointed about facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the headline bout. He stated that it didn’t matter to him who his opponent was, as long as he was in the main event spotlight.
Reigns remarked, “I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with. It didn’t matter who it was. They are trying to stop history from happening. The task was the same: defend the title and remain at the pinnacle.”
The lead-up to WrestleMania 40 originally seemed to pit Reigns against The Rock, The Original Tribal Chief’s legendary cousin. After Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially indicated he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Subsequently, The Rock was expected to step in, but fan backlash led to Rhodes reversing his stance. This led to a storyline where The Rock turned heel, adopting the “Final Boss” persona and aligning with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40 Night 1, Reigns and The Rock teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins. However, on Night 2, Rhodes captured the WWE title from Reigns in the main event. Asked if a future Reigns vs. The Rock match could still happen, Reigns said it’s possible if fans vocally demand it.
He noted, “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
Meanwhile, The Rock made a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month, though he has not appeared since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring both the new and original versions of The Bloodline, speculation is mounting that The Rock could reappear to build towards an eventual showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Potential WWE Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, revealed he may be interested in trying his hand at professional wrestling. Posting a backstage video from a recent WWE UK tour on his YouTube channel, Fury expressed gratitude towards WWE superstars he met, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He said, “Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy Fury, undefeated in his professional boxing career with a 10-0 record, notably handed Jake Paul his only loss. His familial connection to Tyson Fury, who had a one-off WWE bout in 2019 and made various WWE appearances, plus the crossover appeal against the Paul brothers—especially Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar—make Tommy a compelling prospect for wrestling fans and WWE’s mainstream audience alike.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been noticeably absent from WWE NXT programming since the Halloween Havoc event on October 27, where he lost the North American title to Tony D’Angelo and dropped the subsequent rematch. According to reports from Fightful Select, there has been no indication of Femi being backstage at recent NXT tapings.
Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi enjoyed a strong run highlighted by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and a 272-day title reign—the longest for the North American Championship. His recent losses mark his first televised defeats.
The reason for his absence remains unknown. It could be a strategic move by NXT officials to pause his on-screen presence following two significant losses, or possibly due to injury or an anticipated call-up to WWE’s main roster. Fans expect that when Femi returns, he will be a strong contender for the NXT Championship.
Looking Ahead
With WrestleMania 40 now behind us, WWE continues to simmer with intriguing developments. Roman Reigns has affirmed his focus remains on defending his legacy, while The Rock’s possible return could add fuel to future rivalries. Boxing star Tommy Fury’s flirtation with wrestling holds potential for fresh storylines, and Oba Femi’s status in NXT remains a topic to watch in the coming weeks.
Stay tuned for more updates on these stories and other WWE news as they unfold.