Roman Reigns on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyeing WWE Career, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Rumors
By Mike Chiari | Bleacher Report | November 27, 2024
In the latest WWE updates, Roman Reigns shared his perspective on his WrestleMania 40 opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, British boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a possible future in WWE, and rumors swirl about former NXT North American champion Oba Femi’s recent absence from NXT programming.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Potential Future Match With The Rock
During an interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns discussed the evolving match dynamics at WrestleMania 40. Many fans speculated the main event would feature The Rock versus Reigns, but ultimately Reigns faced Cody Rhodes instead.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns expressed that it didn’t matter to him who his opponent was, 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… 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.”
After Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially announced he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, opening the door for The Rock to reclaim the spotlight. However, negative fan reactions led Rhodes to reverse course, eventually facing Reigns himself. The Rock turned heel, adopting the "Final Boss" persona, and teamed with Reigns to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. On Night 2, Rhodes upset Reigns to claim the WWE Championship.
Though the anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock match didn’t happen at WrestleMania, Reigns left the door open for a future showdown, hinging 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."
The Rock recently made an unannounced WWE appearance at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his intentions. With the highly anticipated WarGames match featuring the new and original versions of The Bloodline at Survivor Series, some speculate The Rock could make another appearance, potentially setting the stage for a future clash with his cousin.
Tommy Fury Teases Possible WWE Future After Backstage Visit
Tommy Fury, 25, who has gained recognition as an undefeated professional boxer and the only fighter to defeat Jake Paul, recently hinted at a potential WWE career. Posted on YouTube, a video showcased Fury backstage during WWE’s UK tour, where he mingled with stars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Fury expressed appreciation for the hospitality and hinted at the prospect of becoming a wrestler himself:
“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.”
Brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury—who wrestled briefly for WWE at Crown Jewel 2019 and famously knocked out Austin Theory in the crowd at Clash at the Castle 2022—Tommy’s potential crossover excites fans, especially with WWE star Logan Paul connected to both the boxing and wrestling worlds. A kind of “Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers” rivalry could captivate mainstream audiences and increase WWE’s crossover appeal.
NXT Star Oba Femi Absent Following Recent Losses, Future Plans Unknown
Oba Femi, a former NXT North American Champion, has been noticeably absent from NXT events since late October. Per reports from Fightful Select, Femi hasn’t been backstage or appeared on television since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The cause of his absence remains unclear. It could be a simple hiatus after two consecutive high-profile losses or a strategic decision by NXT officials to allow his momentum to reset.
Femi burst onto the scene with a dominant run after debuting in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee. He held the title for a record 272 days before losing it to D’Angelo and then losing a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
Speculation persists that Femi might be headed for a main roster call-up, or potentially recovering from a minor injury. Should he return soon, he remains a strong contender for the NXT Championship, poised to continue his upward trajectory inside WWE.
With these intriguing developments, WWE fans have plenty to anticipate as Roman Reigns, Tommy Fury, and Oba Femi each potentially chart new courses in their careers. The coming months promise exciting storylines and cross-sport narratives that could redefine WWE’s landscape.
Stay tuned for more updates from the WWE universe.