Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE; NXT Star Oba Femi’s Mysterious Absence
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report
Date: November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with several intriguing developments this week, including Roman Reigns’ recent comments on his WrestleMania 40 main event spot, boxer Tommy Fury hinting at a WWE future, and NXT standout Oba Femi’s unexplained absence from the brand. Here’s a detailed look at the latest WWE news and rumors making waves across the wrestling world.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 and Feud Dynamics
In a revealing interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE’s Tribal Chief Roman Reigns discussed his mindset going into WrestleMania 40, where fans speculated endlessly whether he would face The Rock or Cody Rhodes in the main event.
Reigns stated that it didn’t matter to him who he faced as long as he was the main event attraction. "It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event," Reigns explained. "I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I am the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out."
The original plan saw Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially refusing to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. Subsequently, anticipation grew around a potential match between Reigns and The Rock. However, after negative fan reactions to this switch, Rhodes reversed his position, leading to The Rock turning heel as "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns. This set up a thrilling Night 1 main event at WrestleMania 40—Reigns and The Rock defeating Rhodes and Seth Rollins—followed by Rhodes capturing the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding a future match against The Rock, Reigns remains open-minded, emphasizing that fan interest could bring the dream bout to fruition. "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen," he added.
With The Rock making a surprise return at Bad Blood last month, speculation is rife about whether he will reappear at the upcoming Survivor Series event where new and original versions of The Bloodline face off in a WarGames match. Such an appearance could serve as a prelude to the long-anticipated showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Prospective WWE Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, sparked excitement this week with hints about a possible future in WWE.
Sharing footage from backstage at a recent WWE United Kingdom tour event on his YouTube channel, Fury praised WWE stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. He expressed his gratitude for the experience and left the door open to a wrestling career by saying, "I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?"
Tommy Fury, currently undefeated with a 10-0 professional boxing record and notable for handing Jake Paul his only boxing defeat, could be a valuable crossover star for WWE. Given his connections to the Paul family, a storyline involving the Fury brothers facing off against the Paul brothers—particularly Logan Paul, a current WWE star—could capture mainstream interest and bring fresh attention to WWE programming.
Tyson Fury himself has history with WWE, having competed once against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and famously disrupting Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in attempt at Clash at the Castle 2022. —
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
NXT fans have noticed the absence of Oba Femi, the former North American Champion, from recent tapings and television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Reports from Fightful Select have confirmed Femi’s absence and noted that there has been no backstage presence or updates regarding any injury or storyline reasons.
Since debuting on NXT in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks by winning the Breakout Tournament and cashing in his title shot to defeat Dragon Lee, beginning a record-setting 272-day reign as North American Champion. His recent back-to-back losses to D’Angelo, including losing the title, could have prompted a temporary break from television, either for him to regroup or for creative reasons.
Rumors suggest that Femi might be preparing for a promotion to WWE’s main roster or returning following recovery from a potential injury. Regardless, once back, Femi is widely regarded as a strong candidate to pursue the NXT Championship, poised for a major comeback story.
What’s Next for WWE?
With Roman Reigns’ openness to future matches with The Rock, Tommy Fury’s potential wrestling debut on the horizon, and the enigmatic absence of Oba Femi in NXT, the WWE landscape remains full of intriguing possibilities. Fans will be watching closely to see how these narratives unfold in the weeks ahead, especially considering WWE’s continued focus on delivering compelling stories that resonate with its passionate audience.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all the latest WWE news and live updates.