Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; NXT Rumors on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, featuring insights from WWE’s top stars and emerging talent as the landscape of professional wrestling continues to evolve.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Possible Rock Match
During a recent appearance on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 main event experience and his thoughts on facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes rather than his cousin The Rock, Reigns was clear that the identity of his opponent was secondary to holding the main event spotlight. “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns remarked. He emphasized that his role was to defend his title against those aiming to “stop history” and that the challenge was the same regardless of the opponent.
The buildup to WrestleMania 40 had seen some shifts. Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, leading to speculation that The Rock would step in. After fan backlash, Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock turned heel as “The Final Boss,” aligning himself with Reigns. On Night 1, Reigns and The Rock teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, but on Night 2, Rhodes claimed the WWE Championship from Reigns.
Despite the much-anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock match not materializing at WrestleMania, Reigns acknowledged the potential for it in the future. “If the fans are loud enough and passionate about something, we can make it happen,” he said, praising the company’s responsiveness to its audience. The Rock made a surprise return at last month’s Bad Blood event but left his intentions unclear and has not appeared since. With a WarGames match featuring factions of The Bloodline scheduled for Survivor Series, fans may see The Rock return again soon, potentially reigniting a feud with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Considers WWE Career After Backstage Visit
Prominent boxer Tommy Fury appears to be exploring the possibility of a future in professional wrestling with WWE. The 25-year-old posted a YouTube video capturing his backstage experiences during WWE’s recent UK tour. Fury expressed appreciation for the wrestlers and the company’s hospitality and hinted at a desire to “climb through the ropes one day.”
Fury comes from a notable boxing family—his older brother Tyson Fury competed in WWE once, scoring a count-out victory over Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019. Tyson remained connected to the company, famously interfering at WWE Clash at the Castle in 2022 to stop Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in.
Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and is known for being the only fighter to have defeated Jake Paul. Given his connections and status, Tommy’s potential WWE career could create compelling storylines, possibly involving the Paul brothers, such as Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. A tag-team rivalry involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could attract significant mainstream attention.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Notably absent from NXT tapings and broadcasts in recent weeks, former North American Champion Oba Femi has sparked speculation about his status within WWE’s developmental brand. Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at NXT Halloween Havoc on October 27. After debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi enjoyed a dominant run, winning the prestigious NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His 272-day title reign came to an end with a surprising loss to D’Angelo last month, followed by a rematch defeat at Halloween Havoc. Since then, Femi has been noticeably off NXT TV.
The reason for Femi’s absence is unclear. It might be a strategic pause to recover from the emotional impact of his recent losses or even a precaution due to injury. Alternatively, this could be part of WWE’s creative plans to refresh his character or build anticipation for a future main roster call-up. When he returns, Femi is widely viewed as a top contender for the NXT Championship and a potential successor to current champion Trick Williams.
What Lies Ahead?
With WrestleMania storylines still unfolding, potential new WWE talent emerging, and NXT stars like Oba Femi poised for a return, the WWE Universe continues to buzz. Roman Reigns’ willingness to engage with The Rock again, Tommy Fury’s possible transition into wrestling, and Femi’s mysterious hiatus make the coming months intriguing for fans.
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Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – April 6, 2024: The Rock and Roman Reigns after their WrestleMania 40 tag team victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins.
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