Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury’s WWE Aspirations, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with recent developments involving some of the company’s biggest names and emerging talents. In an insightful interview, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event opponents, The Rock and Cody Rhodes, while boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a future in WWE. Meanwhile, speculation is mounting about the whereabouts of former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi, who has been notably absent from recent programming.
Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Potential Future Match with The Rock
During a recent appearance on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns addressed his experience headlining WrestleMania 40 against Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock—a match that was subject to speculation in the lead-up to the event.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns emphasized that he was focused on his role as the main event star and defending his championship, stating, "It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It didn’t matter who it is. They are trying to stop history from happening."
The narrative in the months prior had shifted when Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This led to a brief expectation that The Rock would step into the challenger role. After fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his stance, and The Rock turned heel, becoming The Final Boss and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes ultimately capturing the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding the possibility of a future one-on-one match with The Rock, the Tribal Chief expressed openness, underscoring the importance of 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 a surprise WWE return recently at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his plans, fueling anticipation for a potential showdown—especially with the upcoming WarGames match involving different factions of The Bloodline at Survivor Series.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Aspirations Following UK Tour Experience
Professional boxer Tommy Fury, brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has piqued interest by suggesting he may one day step into the world of professional wrestling. In a YouTube video recorded backstage at a recent WWE live event during the company’s UK tour, Fury mingled with WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Fury praised the wrestlers and the WWE organization, saying, "And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night." At 25 years old, Tommy boasts an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and remains the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, adding to his crossover appeal.
With Tyson Fury having previously had a one-off match with WWE in 2019 and making notable appearances in recent WWE events, the Fury family connection could serve as a bridge for Tommy’s potential wrestling career. Given Tommy’s ties to the Paul family—his notable boxing rivalry with Jake Paul—a storyline involving the Paul brothers and Fury brothers might resonate with mainstream audiences.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Meanwhile, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen at NXT tapings since his defeat at Halloween Havoc on October 27 to Tony D’Angelo. Fightful Select reports there is no information about Femi’s current status backstage, leading to questions about the reasons behind his recent absence.
Femi’s career trajectory in NXT has been impressive since his televised debut in April 2023. He secured the NXT Breakout Tournament win and defeated Dragon Lee for the North American Championship, setting a record reign of 272 days. His first televised loss was the title defeat to D’Angelo, followed by a rematch loss at Halloween Havoc.
The absence could be due to a variety of reasons, including potential injury, a main roster call-up, or creative decisions to give him time off after consecutive losses. If Femi returns, he is a logical contender to pursue the NXT Championship and potentially challenge its current holder, Trick Williams.
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