Roman Reigns Talks Wrestling The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Interest; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
Bleacher Report, November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns on recent major matches, potential WWE opportunities for boxer Tommy Fury, and current rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Prospects for a Match with The Rock
Roman Reigns recently opened up about his WrestleMania 40 opponents Cody Rhodes and The Rock during an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina. The conversation, which took place around the 31:45 mark, revealed Reigns’ thoughts on the shifting plans WWE had for the event’s main event.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns shrugged off any concerns, emphasizing that being in the main event was what mattered most.
"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. 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."
This comment came amidst a complicated WrestleMania build-up where Rhodes initially won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and indicated he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This led to The Rock seemingly stepping into that spot. However, after fans expressed displeasure at the change, Rhodes reversed his stance, resulting in The Rock turning heel—adopting the moniker "The Final Boss"—and teaming with Reigns to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1. Rhodes then reclaimed the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Looking ahead, Reigns suggested a match against The Rock could still happen if fans demand it strongly enough:
"I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, we’re a company who—we’re not being dictated to. We have a vision for where we’re trying to go, but we know who the consumers are. We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people."
He added,
"If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
Although The Rock returned unexpectedly at last month’s Bad Blood event, he has not made any further appearances or clarified his career intentions. With the upcoming WarGames match featuring the new and original iterations of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, speculation brews about potential involvement from The Rock and future storylines between the cousins.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Future After Backstage Visit
Boxer Tommy Fury teased an interest in exploring a professional wrestling career with WWE following his recent backstage visit to a WWE show during their UK tour. Fury shared his experience in a Sunday YouTube video, where he interacted with several WWE Superstars.
"So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love. Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them, Gunther, the lot of them. 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."
At 25 years old, Tommy is the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who has a history with WWE, having competed in a single match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019. Tyson also made waves at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022 by disrupting Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in attempt.
Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated professional boxing record (10-0) and is notable for his victory over YouTube sensation Jake Paul. Given his connection to the Paul family and his athletic background, he could become a formidable WWE presence, potentially matching up with Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. The possibility of a tag team matchup featuring the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers could attract broad mainstream attention, making Tommy a sought-after addition for WWE’s future plans.
NXT Star Oba Femi Reportedly Missing from Recent Tapings
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT programming and tapings for the past month following a pair of significant losses, according to Fightful Select and reports via Ringside News.
Femi last appeared on television at the October 27 Halloween Havoc event, where he suffered a defeat to Tony D’Angelo, ending his reign as North American Champion after an impressive 272-day run—the longest in the title’s history. He also lost a rematch at the same event.
Femi’s disappearance from NXT tapings since then has led to speculation about his status. Possible explanations include time off to recover from injury, a planned refresh after back-to-back losses, or preparation for a main roster call-up. Since debuting in April 2023, Femi quickly made a mark by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee.
Should Femi return, many in the NXT creative team may view him as a prime contender for the NXT Championship, ready to make a strong statement.
Stay tuned for more updates on WWE’s unfolding storylines and emerging talent as the wrestling world continues to evolve.