Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE; NXT’s Oba Femi MIA
By Mike Chiari | Bleacher Report | November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe is abuzz with fresh updates, as Roman Reigns opens up about his WrestleMania 40 main event experience, boxing star Tommy Fury hints at a possible WWE future, and NXT grappler Oba Femi’s recent absence sparks speculation.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents: The Rock and Cody Rhodes
In a candid interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE’s Tribal Chief Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the high-stakes WrestleMania 40 scenario, where the main event booking oscillated between facing The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
Reigns explained that for him, the identity of his opponent was secondary to being featured in the main event, the spotlight where “everyone wanted to take me out.” He said, “It doesn’t matter to me . . . we just need to get there and defend this thing. It’s the same task in hand for me.”
Originally, Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially declared he would not challenge Reigns at WrestleMania. Fans expected The Rock, Reigns’s famous cousin and WWE legend, to step into that slot. However, negative fan reactions to this booking change caused Rhodes to reverse his stance, leading to The Rock turning heel, rebranding as The Final Boss, and aligning with Reigns.
The Rock and Reigns teamed up to overcome Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes ultimately dethroning Reigns for the WWE Championship in the main event on Night 2. When asked about a potential Reigns vs. Rock match in the future, Roman stated that if the fans loud and passionate enough, the company will listen. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” Reigns commented.
The Rock made a surprise WWE return last month at the Bad Blood event, though he has been absent from further appearances. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring The Bloodline storyline, many speculate this could be a perfect opportunity for The Rock to re-emerge and rekindle a long-anticipated showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
Boxing sensation Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted he may explore a career in professional wrestling with WWE.
Fury shared a backstage video from a recent WWE UK tour event where he mingled with stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. He expressed appreciation for the wrestlers’ hospitality and said he looks forward to “possibly climbing through those ropes one day.”
Tommy Fury is currently undefeated in professional boxing at 10-0 and notably handed Jake Paul one of his few losses. Given Fury’s ties to the boxing and entertainment-focused Paul family—Logan Paul is a WWE Superstar—there is potential for intriguing crossover in future WWE storylines, with speculation about possible tag team matches featuring the Fury brothers versus the Paul brothers generating buzz.
Oba Femi’s Mysterious NXT Absence
Meanwhile, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been conspicuously missing from WWE’s NXT programming since late October.
Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been backstage for tapings following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc. While the reason for his absence remains unclear, it could be a strategic break to recover and reset after two consecutive losses, including losing his record-setting 272-day North American Championship reign.
Since debuting in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks, winning the Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title. His next steps remain uncertain—rumors swirl about a possible main roster call-up, injury, or television hiatus to build momentum for future storylines.
Fans will be watching closely for Femi’s eventual return, where many expect him to be a strong contender for the NXT Championship, possibly challenging current champ Trick Williams.
Looking Ahead
With WrestleMania aftermath discussions continuing, rising stars eyeing WWE futures, and NXT evolving in surprise ways, the pro wrestling world remains dynamic as 2024 nears its end.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for all your WWE and pro wrestling updates.
Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images
Roman Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024.