Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Matchups, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi Absent from NXT
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with recent developments involving some of professional wrestling’s most intriguing figures. Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 main event experience and the possibility of facing The Rock in the future. Meanwhile, boxer Tommy Fury showed interest in potentially joining WWE, and NXT star Oba Femi’s absence has sparked speculation about his status.
Roman Reigns Discusses WrestleMania 40 and Potential Match with The Rock
In a revealing interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns dove into his thoughts on the shifting dynamics around WrestleMania 40’s headline matchups, especially the switch between facing The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he felt disappointed about ultimately facing Rhodes rather than The Rock, Reigns was emphatic in his stance, saying it didn’t matter 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."
The confusion stemmed from Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially declaring he would not challenge Reigns for the championship at WrestleMania 40, which appeared to pave the way for The Rock to take the spot. However, negative fan reactions led Rhodes to reverse course, turning the storyline sideways and prompting The Rock to turn heel, adopt the moniker "The Final Boss," and ally with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, with Rhodes ultimately capturing the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Looking ahead, Reigns addressed whether a dream match against The Rock might still happen:
“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 continued, "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 to WWE programming at the recent Bad Blood event but has yet to clarify his intentions, making an appearance at the upcoming Survivor Series WarGames match a potential stage for advancing their storyline.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, caused a stir this week when he appeared backstage at a WWE event during the company’s UK tour, sparking speculation about a possible career crossover.
Sharing a backstage video on YouTube, Fury warmly acknowledged WWE stars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, expressing gratitude for the hospitality and hinting at future involvement in 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.”
With an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and notable victories that include beating Jake Paul, Fury could be an interesting addition to WWE, potentially engaging in rivalries with Logan Paul, a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. The prospect of a tag-team clash featuring the Paul brothers against the Fury brothers already has fans intrigued.
Oba Femi’s Mysterious Absence from NXT
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has not been seen on NXT television or backstage for nearly a month, according to reports from Fightful Select. Femi’s last televised appearance was at Halloween Havoc on October 27, where he lost a rematch to Tony D’Angelo, ending his record-setting 272-day reign as North American Champion.
The reasons for Femi’s absence remain unclear—whether it be injury, a planned hiatus to regroup following two high-profile defeats, or preparations for a potential main roster call-up. Since debuting in April 2023, Femi has been on an impressive trajectory, including winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title by cashing in on Dragon Lee.
Speculation suggests that upon his return, Femi could be a strong contender for the NXT Championship, positioned to continue making a significant impact in WWE’s developmental brand.
As WWE continues to evolve its storylines and roster, fans eagerly anticipate how these developments with Reigns, Fury, and Femi will unfold in the coming months.