Roman Reigns Shares Thoughts on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT’s Oba Femi Absent
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with recent developments involving some of the company’s biggest names. Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experiences and his views on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a potential wrestling future with WWE, and NXT star Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent programming. Here’s a detailed update on these key stories.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and Talks The Rock Match Possibility
Roman Reigns appeared on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina to discuss his WrestleMania 40 main event against Cody Rhodes and address the ongoing anticipation surrounding a potential match against his cousin, The Rock. Reigns revealed that he was not concerned about who he faced at WrestleMania as his focus was simply on defending his championship and continuing his legacy at the pinnacle of WWE.
Asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns stated, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with. It’s where, we just need to get there and defend this thing. It didn’t matter who it is. They are trying to stop history from happening… so it was the same task in hand for me.”
Following Rhodes’ victory in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble, he initially declared he would not challenge Reigns at WrestleMania, pointing instead to The Rock as the projected challenger. Fan backlash led to a reversal, resulting in The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss,” aligning with Reigns to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 at WrestleMania 40. However, Rhodes reclaimed the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. When asked if a match against The Rock could still be in the cards, Reigns underscored WWE’s responsiveness to fan demand: “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.” The Rock made an unannounced return at last month’s Bad Blood event but has yet to clarify his intentions or appear since.
Tommy Fury Expresses Interest in WWE Career During UK Tour
British boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, has sparked interest in a possible pro wrestling career with WWE. During the company’s UK tour, Fury posted a YouTube video from backstage that showed him interacting with top WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete,” Fury said. “Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them… Thank you to WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury holds an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, tying him to overlapping realms of sports entertainment that include WWE’s Logan Paul. The Fury and Paul families’ contrast and crossover could lay the groundwork for future WWE storylines should Tommy make the jump to wrestling.
Oba Femi’s Absence From NXT Raises Questions About His Future
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen on NXT television or backstage since losing at Halloween Havoc on October 27, according to Fightful Select. The reason for his absence remains unclear, with speculation ranging from injury recovery to a potential call-up to WWE’s main roster.
Femi, a University of Alabama alumnus and former NXT Breakout Tournament winner, held the North American Championship for a record-setting 272 days before dropping the title to Tony D’Angelo last month. Following a rematch loss at Halloween Havoc, he has not appeared on NXT programming.
Industry insiders suggest WWE might be giving Femi time to reset after two crucial defeats. If he returns, he is considered a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially laying claim to dethrone current champion Trick Williams.
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