WWE News Update: Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock & Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE universe, including Roman Reigns’ thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 opponents, boxer Tommy Fury’s interest in the WWE, and rumors about NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence.
Roman Reigns Discusses WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently opened up about his experience heading into WrestleMania 40, sharing his views on facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock. Speaking on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Reigns emphasized that the main event itself mattered more than the opponent.
In response to a question about whether he was disappointed not to wrestle The Rock, Reigns said, “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. They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
The backstory to this stemmed from Cody Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially stating he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40. Instead, The Rock appeared to be in line for that spotlight, but fan backlash reversed the decision. Subsequently, The Rock turned heel, aligning himself with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” The two teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes reclaiming the WWE title from Reigns on Night 2. Despite the much-anticipated match between Reigns and The Rock not happening at WrestleMania 40, Reigns hinted it could still be on the horizon. He told Traina, “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock recently made a surprise one-night return at WWE Bad Blood but has not made further appearances since, leaving speculation about a future showdown with his cousin Reigns, potentially at Survivor Series where the original and new versions of The Bloodline are set to clash.
Tommy Fury Expresses Interest in Joining WWE
Boxer Tommy Fury teased the possibility of stepping into the professional wrestling world with WWE. In a YouTube video captured backstage during WWE’s recent UK tour, Fury praised the WWE talent and hinted at a future in wrestling.
“So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love. Big up to Randy Orton… Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them, Gunther, the lot of them,” Fury said. “Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy Fury, 25, is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, the former world heavyweight boxing champion who has a history with WWE, including a 2019 match at Crown Jewel and a notable incident involving Austin Theory at the 2022 Clash at the Castle event. Tommy himself holds an undefeated boxing record and is noted for being the only fighter to defeat Jake Paul, linking him closely with the Paul family, who have an ongoing WWE presence. This has led to speculation about potential high-profile matches or tag team bouts involving the Fury brothers versus the Paul brothers in WWE.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Rumors
Reports have surfaced that NXT star Oba Femi, the former North American Champion, has not been seen backstage or on NXT episodes for over a month. Fightful Select revealed that since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, Femi has not been part of NXT tapings.
The reasons for his absence remain unclear. It could be a temporary break following two key losses — first losing the North American title after a record 272-day reign, and a subsequent defeat in a rematch. Alternatively, it might indicate WWE is planning his next move, either a main roster call-up or a storyline reset.
Femi burst onto NXT in April 2023, quickly making a name with a Breakout Tournament win and capturing the North American Championship by cashing in on Dragon Lee. His athletic background as a University of Alabama shot put star contributed to his standout presence. Fans and insiders are eagerly awaiting any announcement about his return, confident that he remains a strong candidate for future NXT or WWE main roster storylines.
Summary
Roman Reigns remains focused on his role as the main event player, open to a future clash with The Rock, while boxer Tommy Fury shows enthusiasm for a WWE career that could intertwine with wrestling’s biggest names. Meanwhile, Oba Femi’s recent NXT absence has stirred speculation about his WWE future, whether it’s downtime, injury, or preparation for a bigger push. Stay tuned as WWE storylines continue to evolve.
For all the latest WWE updates and rumors, keep checking Bleacher Report.