Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, Considers Future Rock Bout; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
In a recent interview, WWE Superstar Roman Reigns opened up about the main event dynamics of WrestleMania 40, shared his thoughts on a potential future clash with The Rock, and addressed the shifting storyline involving Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, boxer-turned-WWE hopeful Tommy Fury hinted at a possible future in professional wrestling, and NXT star Oba Femi’s unexpected absence from recent tapings has fans and insiders speculating.
Reigns Provides Insight on WrestleMania 40 Matchups and The Rock
During a Tuesday appearance on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns discussed the lead-up to WrestleMania 40, explaining his mindset amidst the uncertainty about whether he would face The Rock or Cody Rhodes in the event’s main event.
Reigns expressed that the identity of his opponent was secondary to his main goal: defending the WWE Championship and maintaining his status as the “Tribal Chief.” Reacting to questions about any disappointment in not facing The Rock, he said, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with. They are trying to stop history from happening… it was the same task in hand for me.”
After Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania, speculation arose that The Rock would step in. This led to a storyline twist where The Rock turned heel, adopting the persona “The Final Boss” and aligning himself with Reigns. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, Reigns and The Rock teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, only for Rhodes to capture the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Looking ahead, Reigns suggested a future match against The Rock remains possible, 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. Notably, The Rock made an unannounced WWE appearance at last month’s Bad Blood pay-per-view but has not yet outlined his next move. The upcoming Survivor Series event, featuring a WarGames match with Reigns and The Bloodline factions, could present another opportunity for The Rock to re-emerge and build momentum toward a potential showdown with his cousin.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Aspirations After Backstage Visit
In other crossover news, British professional boxer Tommy Fury posted a YouTube video highlighting his backstage visit to a WWE event during the company’s recent UK tour. During the clip, Fury expressed appreciation for meeting WWE stars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther and hinted at the possibility of pursuing wrestling.
Commenting on the experience, Fury said, “I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.” The 25-year-old is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, former world heavyweight boxing champion, who made a one-off WWE appearance in 2019 and remains connected to the brand.
Tommy Fury’s undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and his unique relationship with the Paul family — including being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul — position him as a promising crossover talent. Given WWE Superstar Logan Paul’s prominence, a familial rivalry or tag team storyline involving the Fury and Paul brothers could draw mainstream attention to WWE’s programming.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Raises Questions
Meanwhile, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. According to Fightful Select, no backstage sightings or reports of Femi have surfaced in the past month, prompting speculation about his status.
Femi, who made his televised NXT debut in April 2023, quickly rose through the ranks by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. Holding the title for a record 272 days, Femi only recently suffered his first televised losses, dropping the championship and then the rematch to D’Angelo.
The reasons behind Femi’s absence are unclear—it may be a strategic break aimed at regrouping or a precursor to a promotion to WWE’s main roster. Injury is also a possibility, though not confirmed. When he returns, Femi is widely viewed as a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially dethroning current titleholder Trick Williams.
With WWE’s storylines evolving rapidly, fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates on these developments. For ongoing wrestling news, analysis, and discussion, listeners can access the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio, covering all the hottest topics from WWE and beyond.