WWE News Update: Roman Reigns on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career, and Oba Femi’s NXT Status
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
The WWE Universe remains buzzing with recent developments involving some of its biggest stars. From Roman Reigns’ reflections on WrestleMania 40 to boxing sensation Tommy Fury hinting at a wrestling future, and NXT’s Oba Femi’s puzzling absence, here’s the latest on what’s shaping up in the world of professional wrestling.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents: The Rock and Cody Rhodes
At WrestleMania 40, fans witnessed high drama as Roman Reigns faced off against Cody Rhodes in the main event, while The Rock made a surprising heel turn and aligned with Reigns. In a new interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up candidly about the shifting plans that saw Rhodes replace The Rock as his WrestleMania opponent.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns emphasized his focus was always on headlining the event with a worthy challenger, regardless of who it was. “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… They are trying to stop history from happening, to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me,” Reigns explained.
Originally, after winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, Rhodes indicated he wouldn’t challenge Reigns at WrestleMania. This led to speculation about The Rock contesting the title. However, fan reactions prompted a reversal, leading to a compelling storyline where The Rock joined forces with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” Reigns and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, only for Rhodes to capture the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. Looking ahead, Reigns hinted a match against The Rock could still be on the horizon if the fans demand it: “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 appearance last month at Bad Blood but has remained absent since, leaving room to speculate about his next moves, especially with the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series involving The Bloodline factions.
Tommy Fury Drops Hints About Possible WWE Future
Tommy Fury, the undefeated professional boxer and younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, recently hinted at exploring a career in professional wrestling with WWE. Posting a YouTube video from backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Tommy expressed his appreciation for the company and the wrestlers he met, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In his remarks, Fury said, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day… Who knows?” This statement has sparked speculation about him making a transition to the wrestling ring.
Tommy’s brother Tyson previously dabbled in WWE, having a one-off match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and famously knocking out Austin Theory in the crowd during WWE Clash at the Castle 2022. Given Tommy’s undefeated boxing record and high-profile bouts—he is the only fighter to defeat Jake Paul—his potential WWE involvement could set up intriguing storylines, particularly involving the Paul brothers who are active in WWE, including Logan Paul.
A Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers tag team feud could attract mainstream attention and broaden WWE’s audience, making Tommy Fury a star WWE might consider seriously as they continue blending sports entertainment with mainstream celebrity.
Oba Femi’s Absence Sparks NXT Speculation
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been notably absent from NXT television for over a month. Reports from Fightful Select indicate that Femi has not been backstage at recent NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi had a strong ascent in NXT after debuting in April 2023, winning the Breakout Tournament and holding the North American Championship for a record-breaking 272 days before dropping it to D’Angelo last month. His absence following a rematch loss has led to various theories, including a potential main roster call-up, injury recovery, or a strategic TV hiatus designed to let his recent setbacks settle.
When he returns, many expect Femi to be a contender for the NXT Championship and possibly a key player in dethroning current champion Trick Williams. His combination of athleticism and charisma makes him an ideal candidate for future top-tier storylines in WWE.
Looking Ahead
As WWE continues to navigate storylines involving its legacy stars and rising talents, the potential Rock vs. Reigns showdown, Tommy Fury’s possible wrestling career, and Femi’s NXT future remain compelling narratives. Wrestling fans should stay tuned as the landscape evolves through upcoming pay-per-views and weekly shows.
For more detailed discussion on these topics, listeners can check out the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio.
Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock at WrestleMania 40 after defeating Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on April 6, 2024, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (WWE/Getty Images)
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