Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, While Tommy Fury and NXT Star Oba Femi Stir WWE Buzz
In the ever-evolving world of WWE, the spotlight recently shone brightly on Roman Reigns, who opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experiences and potential future matchups. Meanwhile, discussions around boxer Tommy Fury’s possible WWE future and NXT talent Oba Femi’s current status have sparked intrigue among fans.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and the Rock vs. Cody Rhodes Debate
Roman Reigns shared insights during a recent interview on the SI Media podcast, hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina. The segment, beginning around 31:45 of the episode, featured Reigns discussing the high-profile main event situation at WrestleMania 40. Reigns addressed the shifting plans that saw the WWE initially consider a showdown between him and The Rock, The Original Tribal Chief’s famous cousin, before settling on a match with Cody Rhodes instead. When asked whether he was disappointed to face Rhodes rather than The Rock, Reigns made it clear that the opponent did not matter as long as he was in the main event:
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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 lead-up to WrestleMania 40 featured twists — after Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble in 2024, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, prompting speculation that The Rock would fill that role. Nevertheless, fan backlash led Rhodes to reverse course, while The Rock turned heel, adopting the moniker “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns.
On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The next night, Rhodes ultimately beat Reigns for the WWE title. Despite the much-anticipated Rock vs. Reigns singles match not materializing, Reigns left the door open, suggesting it could happen if fans loudly desire it:
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock recently made an unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has remained elusive since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring the new and original versions of The Bloodline, many speculate this could pave the way for The Rock’s renewed involvement.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Aspirations Amid UK Tour Visit
Boxer Tommy Fury, the younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, might be considering a future in pro wrestling. Posting a video from backstage during WWE’s recent United Kingdom tour, Fury expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from several WWE Superstars and hinted at a desire to cross the ropes himself one day.
Fury said in the video:
“Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them, Gunther, the lot of them… I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and notably is the only athlete to have beaten Jake Paul. Given his family ties with the Paul brothers and a potential natural rivalry with Logan Paul, who is a WWE Superstar and former United States champion, Tommy Fury’s crossover to WWE could attract mainstream attention.
His elder brother Tyson had a brief WWE run, including a high-profile match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and a memorable crowd-side interference at Clash at the Castle 2022. —
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Speculation
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen on NXT programming or backstage since late October. Fightful Select reported that Femi hasn’t been involved in tapings following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at October’s Halloween Havoc event, where he lost the North American title and the subsequent rematch.
The reason behind Femi’s absence remains unclear—possible factors include a storyline reset after two consecutive losses, injury, or even preparation for a main roster call-up.
Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Oba Femi made a strong impression by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and subsequently claiming the North American Championship, holding the title for a record 272 days. He is seen as a prime candidate to pursue the NXT Championship upon his return and could be the ideal challenger to current champion Trick Williams.
What’s Next in WWE?
As WWE continues to blend athletic competition with compelling storytelling, the developments around Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury, and Oba Femi suggest fresh narratives and potential blockbuster matches on the horizon. Fans and insiders alike will be watching closely to see how these stories evolve, especially with major events like Survivor Series approaching.
For ongoing coverage and in-depth discussions on wrestling’s hottest topics, fans can tune into wrestling podcasts like Ring Rust Radio, which recently explored these and other trending issues within the WWE Universe.
Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock share a moment of reflection after their team victory at WrestleMania 40, held April 6, 2024, at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field. (Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images)