Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE; NXT Rumors on Oba Femi
By Mike Chiari — Nov 27, 2024
Bleacher Report provides the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns on his WrestleMania 40 experiences, WWE aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury, and recent news concerning NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event and Future Possibilities with The Rock
During a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about his mindset heading into WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock as initially speculated.
When asked whether he felt disappointed to face Rhodes rather than The Rock, Reigns explained that it did not matter to him as long as he was in the main event spotlight. “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,” he stated, emphasizing his focus on defending his championship regardless of the opponent.
This clarification came after a rollercoaster build-up to the WrestleMania 40 main event. After Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, suggesting The Rock would be Reigns’ WrestleMania opponent. However, negative fan reaction led to Rhodes reversing course, prompting The Rock to turn heel, adopt the persona “The Final Boss,” and align with Reigns. Together, Reigns and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, but Rhodes ultimately captured the WWE title from Reigns the following night.
Regarding a potential future match vs. The Rock, Reigns remained open but non-committal. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said, highlighting WWE’s willingness to deliver fan-driven matches. The Rock made an unannounced WWE return last month at Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his intentions. Notably, with The Bloodline’s factions clashing in a WarGames match at Survivor Series, speculation grows that The Rock could make another appearance to further the storyline.
Boxer Tommy Fury Expresses Interest in Joining WWE
British boxer Tommy Fury, 25, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, hinted at a future within WWE during a recent YouTube video where he was backstage at a WWE event in the UK.
Fury shared his enthusiasm for potentially entering professional wrestling, saying, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” He also expressed gratitude for WWE’s hospitality and admiration for WWE Superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Tommy Fury boasts an undefeated 10-0 professional boxing record and remains the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. His family connection combined with his boxing credentials positions him as a natural fit to cross over into WWE, especially considering ongoing storylines involving the Paul brothers. WWE could capitalize on a potential feud or tag team involvement featuring the Fury and Paul brothers to attract crossover fans.
Tyson Fury himself has a history with WWE, having competed once at Crown Jewel 2019 and stopping Austin Theory from cashing in his Money in the Bank contract at Clash at the Castle 2022. —
NXT Star Oba Femi Absent Following Back-to-Back Losses
Reports from Fightful Select indicate that Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has not appeared on NXT broadcasts or tapings since his October 27 loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc.
Femi enjoyed a dominant run in NXT since his debut in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record-setting 272 days before falling to D’Angelo last month. He also lost a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
The reason for Femi’s recent absence remains unclear. It could signal a break to recover physically and mentally after consecutive setbacks, an injury, or potential plans for a main roster call-up. Alternatively, NXT officials might be holding him off TV to allow the impact of his losses to settle before a refreshed return.
Upon his comeback, Femi is regarded as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, possibly being the ideal candidate to challenge the current champion Trick Williams.
Conclusion
Roman Reigns’ insightful comments shed light on his WrestleMania 40 journey and the potential for future marquee matches, possibly involving his cousin The Rock. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury’s overtures toward WWE hint at intriguing new crossover opportunities in the wrestling world. Lastly, Oba Femi’s recent quiet spell in NXT leaves fans curious about the next chapter for the budding star.
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Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns prepare for their WrestleMania 40 match against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)