Roman Reigns Shares Insights on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Considers WWE; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
In a recent episode of the Sports Illustrated Media podcast, WWE superstar Roman Reigns opened up about the developments surrounding WrestleMania 40, particularly focusing on his interactions with wrestling icons The Rock and Cody Rhodes. Additionally, boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a potential future in WWE, while NXT fans have noted the absence of former North American Champion Oba Femi from recent shows.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and Possible Future with The Rock
During the candid interview with SI’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns discussed his mindset leading up to WrestleMania 40, addressing the changes in his opponent lineup from Cody Rhodes to The Rock and back to Rhodes. When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock as initially expected, Reigns emphasized that the opponent did not matter as much as being in the main event spotlight.
Reigns 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. It was the same task in hand for me.”
Following Rhodes’s Royal Rumble victory earlier in the year, there was considerable speculation that The Rock would challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. However, fan backlash led to Rhodes opting to challenge Reigns, prompting The Rock’s heel turn as “The Final Boss” and his alliance with Reigns. On Night 1, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to secure a victory over Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The following night saw Rhodes capture the WWE title by defeating Reigns.
Looking ahead, Reigns suggested a future showdown with The Rock is possible if fans show strong support. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he noted.
The Rock made a surprise return at the recent Bad Blood event but has yet to confirm his future plans in WWE. With The Bloodline’s ongoing storyline, especially the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series, there’s anticipation that The Rock may return to WWE television and potentially set the stage for a marquee match against his cousin, Roman Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Prospective WWE Involvement
In other WWE-related news, British boxer Tommy Fury shared glimpses of his experiences backstage during WWE’s recent UK tour. Fury posted a video clip on YouTube showing him meeting WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. Expressing gratitude toward WWE, he hinted at an interest in stepping into the wrestling ring one day.
Fury remarked, “I look forward to possibly climbing through the ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy is the younger brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who previously had a brief WWE stint, including a match at Crown Jewel 2019 and a notable incident at Clash at the Castle 2022. Currently undefeated in professional boxing with a 10-0 record, Tommy Fury has garnered attention for being the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. Given his connection with the Paul family and Logan Paul’s ongoing WWE career, a potential crossover wrestling matchup or tag team bout involving the Fury and Paul brothers could attract mainstream interest.
NXT’s Oba Femi Absent from Television Following Recent Losses
Meanwhile, NXT has seen a notable absence from rising star Oba Femi. According to Fightful Select, the former North American Champion has not been seen at NXT tapings or broadcasts since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi enjoyed a strong run after debuting on TV in April 2023, including winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, holding the title for a record 272 days prior to losing it.
After dropping both the championship and the rematch to D’Angelo, Femi’s backstage status has raised speculation. While the reason for his absence remains unclear, possibilities include injury recovery, a main roster call-up, or a storyline reset to refresh his character.
Femi’s return remains anticipated by many, with expectations that he could soon pursue the NXT Championship or a new direction in his professional wrestling career.
As WWE continues to evolve its roster and storylines, the wrestling world remains captivated by these developments—from Roman Reigns’s championship pursuits and The Rock’s elusive return to potential new faces like Tommy Fury and the future of talents such as Oba Femi in NXT. Fans will be watching closely as the saga unfolds in coming months.