Roman Reigns Opens Up About The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s Recent NXT Absence
The WWE Universe has plenty of buzz swirling around some of its biggest and up-and-coming stars. Recently, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, while boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at a possible future in WWE. Meanwhile, NXT fans are wondering about the recent absence of former North American champion Oba Femi from tapings. Here’s a breakdown of the latest developments in WWE and NXT.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Potential Clash with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns discussed his experience heading into WrestleMania 40 and the shifting plans around his opponents. Initially, it seemed Reigns would square off against The Rock, his iconic cousin and wrestling legend, but the main event spot eventually went to Cody Rhodes after he won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble. Rhodes’ hesitation to challenge Reigns and fan backlash caused some last-minute changes.
Reigns revealed he remained focused regardless of his opponent, saying, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… 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.”
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, but Rhodes bounced back to capture the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Despite never facing The Rock in a singles match at this event, Reigns didn’t dismiss the possibility of a future showdown, stating, “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock himself made a surprise WWE return last month at Bad Blood, sparking speculation that he could appear again soon, potentially at Survivor Series, where different factions of The Bloodline will collide in a WarGames match. Fans remain eager to see if this leads to a highly anticipated match with Reigns in the near future.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions During UK Tour
Boxing star Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has teased that he might follow in his brother’s footsteps and venture into professional wrestling with WWE. During WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury was spotted backstage interacting with WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In a YouTube video recapping his WWE night, 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?"
Tommy Fury holds an undefeated 10-0 record in boxing and is known for his victory over Jake Paul, establishing himself as a sports figure in his own right. Given his established connections with the Paul family—Logan Paul is a current WWE Superstar—Fury could become involved in intriguing storylines, perhaps even a Paul brothers vs. Fury brothers showdown, which would capture the attention of both wrestling and boxing fans alike.
Oba Femi Missing From NXT Programming Following Two Losses
On the NXT side, recent reports from Fightful Select note that former North American Champion Oba Femi has been absent from NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. This marks the first time in nearly a month that Femi has not been seen on television.
Femi had an impressive start in NXT after debuting in April 2023. He won the Breakout Tournament and cashed in to claim the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, holding the title for a record 272 days. However, he has now suffered two setbacks—the initial title loss and the subsequent rematch defeat.
There is no official word on the reason for his hiatus. It could be a strategic move by NXT creative to let the impact of his losses settle or to prepare him for a main roster call-up. Alternatively, he could be recovering from an injury. Whenever Femi returns, he is widely considered a promising candidate to pursue the NXT Championship and continue his ascent in WWE.
Looking Ahead
The WWE landscape continues to evolve with Roman Reigns maintaining his dominant presence while keeping the door open for a marquee matchup with The Rock. Tommy Fury’s potential crossover into wrestling provides exciting possibilities for future storylines. At the same time, NXT fans eagerly await Oba Femi’s return to action following an impressive title reign and recent setbacks.
As WWE builds towards upcoming major events like Survivor Series and gears up for new talent pushes, wrestling fans can expect plenty of surprises and compelling matches in the months ahead.