Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT Star Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, potential WWE aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury, and the curious case of NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence.
Roman Reigns Talks WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
At WrestleMania 40, held in Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field on April 6, 2024, fans witnessed a blockbuster main event that saw Roman Reigns team up with The Rock to take on Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, followed by a title-changing bout where Rhodes defeated Reigns on Night 2. In an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Reigns opened up about the back-and-forth decision regarding his WrestleMania 40 opponent – whether it would be The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
Reigns expressed that the opponent didn’t matter as long as he was in the main event spotlight, calling himself the "hot chick" in WWE that everyone wanted to face. He said, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with. They’re trying to stop history from happening, trying to take us off the pinnacle right now,” emphasizing the challenge he embraced regardless of the adversary.
The buildup to WrestleMania 40 was marked by Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declining a title shot against Reigns. WWE then teased The Rock’s return as Reigns’ challenger, but fan backlash led Rhodes to change course and accept the headline match. This culminated in The Rock joining Reigns as “The Final Boss” in a tag match and later feuding with Reigns himself.
When asked about a future showdown with The Rock, Reigns kept the door open, suggesting that if the fanbase demanded it, WWE could make it happen. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he remarked.
The Rock made a surprise return last month at WWE’s Bad Blood event, but his intentions remain unclear. With WWE’s ongoing storyline featuring both new and original versions of The Bloodline clashing in an upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation is rife that The Rock could reemerge and set the stage for a long-anticipated family feud.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE After UK Tour
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a possible future in pro wrestling during a recent backstage visit to WWE’s United Kingdom tour.
In a YouTube video posted Sunday, Fury expressed excitement about his WWE experience, giving shoutouts to stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and said, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
Fury’s family ties to WWE run deep; Tyson Fury had a one-off WWE match at Crown Jewel 2019 and famously disrupted Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in at 2022’s Clash at the Castle.
Tommy Fury’s unblemished 10-0 boxing record and his notable victory over Jake Paul position him as a compelling figure to potentially enter WWE storylines, possibly engaging in rivalries with Logan Paul, who is currently a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. A tag team angle pitting the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers could draw significant mainstream attention.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Former North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen on NXT programming since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, 2024, sparking speculation about his status.
According to Fightful Select, there have been no reports of Femi backstage during recent NXT tapings. The reason for his absence is unconfirmed—it could be a strategic break following two high-profile defeats or potentially an injury.
Femi debuted on television in April 2023, quickly becoming a breakout star. He won the NXT Breakout Tournament and secured the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee, holding the title for a record 272 days until his takeover by D’Angelo.
His hiatus has led to rumors about a possible main roster call-up or a period of recalibration within NXT. If and when Femi returns, he is viewed as a strong contender to pursue the NXT Championship, with the potential to dethrone current champion Trick Williams.
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