Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Rumors on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Potential Future with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns opened up about his experiences regarding the main event scene at WrestleMania 40. The discussion with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina focused on Reigns’ matchups with two prominent figures: The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
When asked whether he was disappointed that his WrestleMania 40 opponent was Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns was emphatic that the identity of the challenger did not matter as long as he was 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,” said Reigns. He added, “It was the same task in hand for me: they are trying to stop history from happening and take us off the pinnacle right now.”
Reigns’ remarks come after a whirlwind build-up to WrestleMania 40. Cody Rhodes claimed victory in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially stated he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, making it appear The Rock would be the contender instead. However, after a mixed fan reception, Rhodes reversed course. This led to The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns then teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes reclaiming the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. On the possibility of a future Reigns vs. Rock singles match, Reigns indicated it’s a matter of fan demand. “If the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said. The Rock made a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event in October but has remained absent since. With the ongoing WarGames match at Survivor Series showcasing both the new and original versions of The Bloodline, many are speculating that The Rock’s involvement could ramp up, potentially setting the stage for a family showdown.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Career After UK Appearance
Tommy Fury, the unbeaten professional boxer and younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, hinted at a possible future in WWE this week after attending a WWE event in the UK. Sharing a backstage YouTube video from the WWE tour, Fury expressed enthusiasm and appreciation for the wrestling world.
“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,” Fury said. “Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury’s potential entry into WWE would continue the connection his family has had with the company. Tyson Fury had a notable WWE appearance at Crown Jewel in 2019, securing a count-out victory over Braun Strowman. More recently, Tyson was involved in an incident at Clash at the Castle in 2022 where he knocked out Austin Theory in the crowd, preventing a Money in the Bank cash-in.
Tommy’s undefeated boxing record (10-0) and high-profile victory over Jake Paul position him well to cross over into sports entertainment, possibly fueling storylines involving the Paul brothers — Logan Paul currently being a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. A “Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers” tag team rivalry could appeal to mainstream audiences and boost WWE’s popularity.
NXT Update: Oba Femi Absent from Recent Tapings
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from NXT television and tapings for over a month. Wrestling news outlet Fightful Select confirmed there have been no sightings of Femi backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reasons for Femi’s disappearance remain unclear. It might be a strategic break to recover from two consecutive losses or possibly preparation for a main roster call-up. Since debuting on NXT in April 2023, Femi experienced a rapid rise, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Title by defeating Dragon Lee. His 272-day title reign set records in the NXT brand.
Following the dramatic end to his reign and the loss in the rematch at Halloween Havoc, Femi has been off the air. Fans speculate that upon his return, he could be poised to pursue the NXT Championship and potentially challenge current titleholder Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and Ring Rust Radio for more updates on WWE and the wider wrestling universe.
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Photo Credit: WWE/Getty Images
Roman Reigns and The Rock after their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.