Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Noted
WWE Universe Updates: Reigns’ WrestleMania Insights, Fury’s WWE Interest, and NXT Rumors
Roman Reigns recently opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experience and potential future matchups, including discussions about The Rock and Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at the possibility of pursuing a pro wrestling career with WWE, and former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent NXT tapings, sparking speculation about his status.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and The Rock vs. Cody Rhodes
During an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on the shifting plans leading up to WrestleMania 40’s main event. Initially, it seemed he might face The Rock, but the spotlight eventually went to Cody Rhodes. When asked if he was disappointed by the change, Reigns stated his focus was never on the opponent but rather on holding the main event stage:
“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, trying to take us off the pinnacle right now. So, it was the same task in hand for me.”
The storyline had Cody Rhodes win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match, initially refusing to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. This led to The Rock appearing poised to take that spot. However, due to negative fan reaction, Rhodes reversed course, and The Rock turned heel, becoming “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, before Rhodes claimed the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Reigns also addressed the prospect of a future match with The Rock, emphasizing that fan interest could make it happen:
“I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something… 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 an unannounced WWE return last month at Bad Blood but has not revealed his intentions or appeared since. With the ongoing Bloodline WarGames match scheduled for Survivor Series, some speculate The Rock could reappear and potentially begin building toward a future match with his cousin, Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE Career
Tommy Fury, a 25-year-old professional boxer with an undefeated 10-0 record, teased his potential interest in professional wrestling, specifically with WWE. In a recent YouTube video shot backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury interacted with WWE superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. Wrestling fans got a glimpse of his enthusiasm when he said:
“Big up 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.”
Fury is the younger brother of former world boxing heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who had a one-time WWE match at Crown Jewel 2019 and appeared prominently at WWE events like Clash at the Castle 2022. Tommy’s close ties to the Paul family—famous for Logan Paul’s WWE career—open possibilities for crossover storylines, possibly even pitting the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers in a mainstream wrestling angle.
Oba Femi’s Recent Absence from NXT Programming
Oba Femi, who had an impressive run in NXT by winning the Breakout Tournament and holding the North American Championship for a record 272 days, has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. According to reports from Fightful Select, there has been no indication of Femi backstage or on television in recent weeks.
Femi’s consecutive losses—dropping the North American title and the rematch—might have led to his current hiatus. While the exact reasons remain unclear, possibilities include time off to recover from injury, a strategic reset by NXT officials, or preparation for a main roster call-up.
Many consider Femi a strong candidate to pursue the NXT Championship upon his return, possibly to challenge current titleholder Trick Williams. Fans are eagerly awaiting updates on his status and next steps.
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Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns after their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 on April 6, 2024, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo courtesy WWE/Getty Images)