Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Opportunity, and NXT Rumors Surrounding Oba Femi
Roman Reigns recently opened up about his experiences facing Cody Rhodes and the potential for a future matchup with The Rock, while British boxer Tommy Fury hints at exploring a career with WWE. Meanwhile, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been noticeably absent from the brand’s programming, sparking rumors regarding his status.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and The Rock Match Possibility
During an insightful interview on the SI Media podcast, hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s “Tribal Chief” Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the evolving WrestleMania 40 main event scene. The discussion revealed how Reigns felt as plans shifted between him facing The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns emphasized that it did not matter to him who he faced, as long as he was in the main event spotlight:
"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."
After Rhodes secured the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble victory, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, making it appear The Rock would take that spot. Fan backlash prompted Rhodes to reverse his stance, leading to The Rock’s heel turn as "The Final Boss" and an alliance with Reigns. The two cousins then teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes ultimately capturing the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Regarding the much-anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock match that didn’t materialize at WrestleMania, Reigns said a future showdown is possible if fans express enough passion for it:
“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.”
The Rock made a surprise return at last month’s Bad Blood pay-per-view but has not clarified future plans. Fans could possibly see him again soon, particularly with the upcoming Bloodline WarGames match at Survivor Series, potentially setting the stage for a Reigns vs. Rock main event.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Interest Following Backstage Visit
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, dropped hints about possibly stepping into the wrestling world. Sharing a YouTube video from backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event, Fury met top WWE stars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In the video, Fury expressed gratitude and intrigue about wrestling:
“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.”
The 25-year-old remains undefeated with a 10-0 boxing record and notably is the only boxer to have defeated YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Given the existing WWE involvement of Logan Paul, and Tommy’s ties to the Paul family, a potential rivalry or crossover storyline with WWE could attract significant mainstream interest.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Reports surfaced that Oba Femi, a prominent figure in NXT, has not been visible at recent tapings following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27th. According to Fightful Select, there has been no indication of Femi’s backstage presence in the last month.
After debuting in April 2023, Oba Femi had a meteoric rise: winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, and holding the title for a record 272 days before his recent defeat. His absence could be due to several reasons, including injury, a possible main roster promotion, or creative decisions to allow time after consecutive losses.
When he returns, many speculate Femi will be positioned as a serious contender for the NXT Championship, given his dominant performances and strong fan support.
Stay tuned for further updates on these stories as they evolve within the WWE Universe.