Roman Reigns Talks The Rock and 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, including insights from Roman Reigns on his WrestleMania 40 opponents, boxing star Tommy Fury’s interest in WWE, and speculative news regarding NXT’s Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Matchups and Future Plans with The Rock
During a recent interview on the Sports Illustrated podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts about facing Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40 instead of The Rock. Reigns, known as “The Original Tribal Chief,” was asked if he was disappointed by the switch in opponents. He emphasized that being in the main event was what truly mattered to him.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know,” Reigns said. “They are trying to stop history from happening. They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
The situation arose after Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially opted not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, leading to speculation that The Rock would step in as the challenger. Fan backlash prompted Rhodes’ reversal, and The Rock turned heel by aligning with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the Night 1 main event. However, Rhodes ultimately defeated Reigns on Night 2 to claim the WWE Championship.
When asked about the possibility of a future match against The Rock, Reigns left the door open if the fans strongly desire it. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he remarked.
The Rock made a surprise return last month at WWE Bad Blood but has yet to reveal his full intentions. With major events such as Survivor Series looming, fans might soon see The Rock return to WWE programming, potentially reigniting a much-anticipated feud with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential WWE Career
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of Tyson Fury, hinted at a possible future in WWE. He posted a video from backstage at a recent WWE UK tour, expressing admiration for WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation,” Fury said. “And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
Fury, 25, has made a name for himself in boxing with a perfect 10-0 record, including a notable win over Jake Paul. His connection to the Paul family, especially with Logan Paul being an active WWE Superstar, presents a compelling potential storyline. WWE could explore a “Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers” rivalry, tapping into mainstream appeal and fan interest.
His older brother Tyson Fury briefly dabbled in WWE, most notably winning a match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019, and making waves as a crowd presence at events in 2022. —
NXT Star Oba Femi Reportedly Absent From Recent Tapings
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been noticeably absent from NXT tapings for the past month following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Sources at Fightful Select report no backstage sightings or involvement from Femi since then, leaving his status unclear.
Femi, a former University of Alabama shot put star, made a meteoric rise after debuting in April 2023—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title with a record reign of 272 days. However, he suffered his first televised loss at the hands of D’Angelo and was unable to reclaim the championship in a rematch.
His absence could be attributed to several factors: a need to reset after back-to-back losses, preparation for a main roster call-up, or possibly injury. Speculation also suggests that decision-makers might be holding Femi off television temporarily to allow those losses to settle with fans.
If and when he returns, Femi is expected to be a prime candidate for competing for the NXT Championship, potentially positioning him to dethrone current champion Trick Williams.
Stay Tuned for More Updates
Bleacher Report continues to monitor WWE’s evolving superstar storylines, NXT developments, and crossover interest from athletes like Tommy Fury. For fans eager to dive deeper into these topics, the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio is available for listening.
Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images – Roman Reigns and The Rock after their WrestleMania 40 victory at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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