Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career, and NXT Star Oba Femi’s Absence
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe featuring insights from Roman Reigns, potential WWE aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury, and an update on NXT wrestler Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Possibility of Facing The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast, Roman Reigns opened up about the lead-up to WrestleMania 40 and his feelings regarding the main event opponent change from The Rock to Cody Rhodes. Reigns revealed that the switch did not affect his mindset, underscoring that his primary focus was being in the main event and defending his championship regardless of the challenger.
Reigns explained, "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." He expressed confidence in his role as "the guy that everyone wanted to dance with," emphasizing his position as the center of attention.
Following Cody Rhodes’ win at the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, Rhodes initially stated that he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, seemingly opening the door for The Rock to step in as the contender. However, after negative fan backlash, Rhodes reversed his decision days later. This led to The Rock turning heel as "The Final Boss" and forming an alliance with Reigns. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, while Night 2 saw Rhodes capture the WWE title by defeating Reigns in the main event.
Regarding the highly anticipated match between Reigns and The Rock that did not occur at WrestleMania, Reigns suggested the possibility of it happening in the future if fans show enough demand. "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen," Reigns said.
The Rock made a surprise appearance at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has not been featured since, leaving room for speculation about his next move. With the ongoing storyline involving the new and original Bloodline factions set for a WarGames match at Survivor Series, there is potential for The Rock to reappear and build toward a highly anticipated showdown with his cousin.
Boxer Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has signaled potential interest in crossing over to professional wrestling within WWE. Fury shared a YouTube video from backstage during a recent WWE UK tour, where he mingled with WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from WWE and teased the possibility of joining their ranks: "I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?"
Tommy Fury, undefeated in his boxing career with a 10-0 record, is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. His ties to the Paul family and his boxing popularity could make him a compelling figure in WWE storylines, especially as a potential rival or tag-team partner against or alongside Logan Paul, who is an active WWE Superstar and former United States Champion.
Tyson Fury himself had a brief WWE stint, wrestling Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and making notable appearances at WWE events like Clash at the Castle 2022. —
Oba Femi Absent from NXT Following Title Losses
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been missing from NXT tapings and television since late October. According to Fightful Select, Femi has not appeared backstage or on-screen since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reasons behind his disappearance remain unclear. It might be a chance for Femi to recover from recent losses or potentially prepare for a call-up to WWE’s main roster. Alternatively, it could be a strategic move by NXT’s creative team to allow him time off television to refresh his character.
Femi captured the North American Championship after winning the NXT Breakout Tournament in April 2023, posting an impressive title reign of 272 days — a record in NXT history. His reign ended after a surprise defeat to D’Angelo, followed by a rematch loss at Halloween Havoc.
Upon his return, Femi is expected to be positioned as a legitimate contender for the NXT Championship, continuing his upward trajectory within WWE’s developmental brand.
Stay tuned for more updates as these stories evolve in the WWE landscape.