Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury’s WWE Ambitions, and NXT’s Oba Femi Rumors
In a recent in-depth interview on the SI Media podcast, WWE’s top star Roman Reigns shared his candid thoughts on key developments from WrestleMania 40, the potential for a future showdown with The Rock, and the evolving landscape of WWE talent including newcomer Tommy Fury and NXT’s Oba Femi.
Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns, the “Head of the Table,” addressed the much-discussed WrestleMania 40 main event storyline where WWE appeared to oscillate between pitching him against The Rock or Cody Rhodes. When asked by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina about any disappointment facing Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns emphasized that being the main event star was what mattered most.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Reigns said. “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.”
The storyline saw Rhodes win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially decline to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This led to a tease of The Rock returning for the championship match. Following a mixed fan reaction, Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock aligned with Reigns under his new heel persona, “The Final Boss.” On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins, only for Rhodes to claim the WWE title from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Regarding the long-anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock matchup that didn’t materialize at WrestleMania, Reigns left the door open for the future, contingent on fan demand. “If that’s what 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 WWE appearance at Bad Blood in October 2024, but his intentions remain unclear. With a high-profile WarGames match involving The Bloodline scheduled at Survivor Series, speculation grows that this could be an opportunity to reignite the Reigns-Rock saga.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
Outside the ring, British boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, hinted at potential WWE involvement. Posting a video from backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event, Fury praised WWE talent like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, expressing gratitude and excitement about possibly stepping inside the squared circle one day.
“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,” Fury said.
Tommy Fury, 25, is undefeated in boxing and notably holds a victory over Jake Paul. Given the Paul brothers’ involvement in WWE—Logan Paul is a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion—there is potential for intriguing crossover storylines involving the Fury and Paul families.
Oba Femi Reportedly Absent from NXT Screen
On the developmental front, NXT’s former North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from tapings and television since his loss at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fightful Select reports that he has not been seen backstage for roughly a month, with no official explanation provided.
Femi enjoyed a meteoric rise since debuting on NXT in April 2023, including winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record 272 days before Tony D’Angelo ended it last month. Femi subsequently lost a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
His absence has sparked speculation around possible injury, main roster promotion, or creative reevaluation. NXT management might be allowing him time off TV to regroup following consecutive losses. When Femi returns, he remains a strong candidate to target the NXT Championship given his athleticism and rising star status.
Roman Reigns continues to lead WWE’s narrative as the “Tribal Chief,” while new talent like Tommy Fury fades into view as possible future WWE contenders. Meanwhile, NXT’s Oba Femi’s current quiet spell leaves fans wondering what the future holds for the promising young star.
As WWE moves into the busy holiday season with Survivor Series and beyond, storylines and roster developments will remain under close scrutiny by devoted fans worldwide.