Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
WWE fans have been buzzing lately with updates involving some of the company’s biggest names and rising stars. Here’s a rundown of recent news and rumors surrounding Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury, and Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Matchups
During an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns spoke candidly about the lead-up to WrestleMania 40 and his experiences facing Cody Rhodes and The Rock. Initially, speculation swirled about whether Reigns would square off against The Rock, his iconic cousin known as “The People’s Champion,” or Rhodes, who emerged victorious from the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble.
Reigns made it clear that he valued being in the main event spotlight regardless of the opponent. "It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with," Reigns said. "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."
Notably, after Rhodes originally declined to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40, there was a fan backlash that led to a storyline shift: The Rock turned heel, adopting the persona “The Final Boss,” and aligned with Reigns. This led to a Night 1 main event tag-team victory over Rhodes and Seth Rollins, followed by Rhodes defeating Reigns for the WWE Championship on Night 2. Looking forward, Traina inquired about a possible Reigns vs. The Rock singles match, and Reigns expressed openness if the fans demanded it. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” Reigns said. With The Rock making a surprise WWE appearance last month at Bad Blood but remaining silent on his intentions since, the potential for a showdown remains tantalizing—especially with Survivor Series featuring a WarGames match involving The Bloodline factions.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Future
Professional boxer Tommy Fury, who holds an undefeated record and is the younger brother of heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, recently dropped hints about possibly venturing into professional wrestling. During a recent YouTube video filmed backstage at a WWE event in the United Kingdom, Fury expressed enthusiasm about the experience.
"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… And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day," Tommy said.
The Fury family has WWE history, with Tyson Fury’s one-off WWE match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and his notable involvement at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022 when he interfered in Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in attempt.
Given Tommy’s ties to the Paul family— who are already WWE performers— there is speculation a future brother vs. brother feud or tag team with Logan and Jake Paul could be a compelling storyline to attract crossover fans from boxing and mainstream entertainment.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
In developmental news, Fightful Select reported that rising star Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been notably absent from recent NXT tapings. Femi hasn’t appeared since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, which also ended his record-breaking 272-day title reign.
While the reason for Femi’s hiatus is unclear, possibilities include taking time off to recuperate following back-to-back losses or preparing for a potential main roster call-up. Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi impressed with his breakout tournament win and strong in-ring performances, establishing himself as a key figure in the brand.
Upon his return, many expect Femi to challenge for the NXT Championship, potentially positioning him as a top contender against current champion Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and WWE programming for further developments on these stories and more from the wrestling world.