Roman Reigns Shares Thoughts on The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including Roman Reigns’ reflections on WrestleMania 40, Tommy Fury’s possible WWE aspirations, and recent speculation surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Prospects
During a recent interview on the SI Media podcast, Roman Reigns opened up about his main event at WrestleMania 40 and the shifting plans between having him face either The Rock or Cody Rhodes. The conversation, which took place around the 31:45 mark with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, revealed Reigns’ perspective on the situation.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock and instead wrestle Rhodes, Reigns dismissed the notion of preference, focusing instead on the importance of headlining the event. “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I am the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out. It’s where, we just need to get there and defend this thing," he said. "It didn’t matter who it is. 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.”
Cody Rhodes had initially declared after winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble that he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, leading to expectations that The Rock would take that spot instead. However, negative fan reactions prompted a reversal, which culminated in The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes ultimately capturing the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Looking ahead, Reigns acknowledged the possibility of a future match against The Rock, emphasizing 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,” Reigns said.
The Rock made an unannounced WWE return at last month’s Bad Blood event but has remained inactive on WWE programming since. With a high-profile WarGames match involving the new and original versions of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, fans speculate that The Rock could once again appear and potentially set the stage for a family showdown.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential WWE Career
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, teased the idea of joining WWE during a recent visit backstage at a WWE event in the United Kingdom. Posting a video on YouTube, Fury expressed gratitude toward WWE superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Thank you to the 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,” Fury said.
Tommy Fury is currently undefeated with a 10-0 professional boxing record and holds the distinction of being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul. His connection to the Paul family and rising profile make him a potential fit for WWE, especially as a future opponent for Logan Paul, who is a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. There has also been speculation about a possible tag-team storyline featuring the Fury and Paul brothers that could attract mainstream attention.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has not been seen at recent NXT tapings or on television since his October 27 loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc, according to reports from Fightful Select.
Femi enjoyed a meteoric rise after his April 2023 NXT debut, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and cashing in a title opportunity to defeat Dragon Lee, claiming the North American Championship. His record-setting reign lasted 272 days until he dropped the title to D’Angelo last month, following which he also lost the rematch.
The reasons behind Femi’s recent absence are unclear. It could signal time off to recover from injury or serve as a strategic move by NXT officials to allow the impact of his losses to settle. Alternatively, it has sparked speculation about a possible call-up to WWE’s main roster.
When Femi returns, he is expected to be a strong contender for the NXT Championship and remain a significant figure within the brand.
Stay tuned for continuing coverage and news from the world of professional wrestling.