Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; Oba Femi’s NXT Hiatus Raises Questions
In the latest WWE universe updates, numerous intriguing developments have emerged involving top stars Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and potential new talent Tommy Fury. Additionally, speculation surrounds NXT’s Oba Femi following his recent absence from programming.
Roman Reigns Shares Thoughts on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Possible Rock Match
During an in-depth interview on the SI Media podcast hosted by Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 main event experience — specifically his bouts against Cody Rhodes, as well as the potential of facing his cousin, The Rock, in the future.
Reigns addressed the shifting plans ahead of WrestleMania, where WWE appeared to alternate between having him face The Rock or Rhodes. When asked if he was disappointed to meet Rhodes instead of The Rock at the marquee event, Reigns made it clear that what mattered most to him was being the main event and defending his championship.
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I am the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out,” 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.”
The storyline evolved with Rhodes winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble and initially stating intentions not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania. This had suggested The Rock would step in as a challenger. However, after fan backlash to this change, Rhodes reversed his stance, which culminated in The Rock turning heel, adopting the moniker “The Final Boss,” and aligning himself with Reigns. The pair combined forces to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the Night 1 main event, but the Night 2 highlighted Rhodes capturing the WWE title from Reigns.
Discussing the potential for a Reigns-versus-Rock showdown in the future — a match highly anticipated by fans — Reigns expressed openness, contingent on fan demand: “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 a surprise return to WWE at last month’s Bad Blood event but has not explicitly outlined his next moves within the company. With an intense WarGames match pitting the new versus original Bloodline at Survivor Series, many speculate The Rock might reappear to begin building toward a long-awaited encounter.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Journey Following Backstage Visit
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, teased potential WWE ambitions during a recent backstage visit to a WWE event in the UK. Fury shared a YouTube video showcasing moments with WWE superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“Thank you to the WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night,” Fury remarked.
At 25 years old with an unbeaten 10-0 professional boxing record, Tommy Fury has gained notable attention, including being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul. His possible transition into pro wrestling would align well with his familial connection to Tyson Fury, who had a notable WWE match in 2019 and caused a scene at WWE Clash at the Castle in 2022. The idea of potential encounters between the Fury and Paul wrestling families also sparks interest among mainstream audiences.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
On the NXT front, former North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly not been seen around recent NXT tapings since his last match at Halloween Havoc on October 27, where he lost a rematch against Tony D’Angelo.
According to Fightful Select, there is no confirmation regarding the reason for Femi’s absence. Speculation includes the possibility of injury, a strategy to allow Femi to recalibrate after consecutive losses, or perhaps preparation for a call-up to WWE’s main roster.
Femi, who debuted on NXT television in April 2023, quickly rose to prominence by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship, which he held for a record-setting 272 days before losing it to D’Angelo.
When and how Femi returns remains uncertain, but industry insiders believe he remains a strong candidate to pursue the NXT Championship upon his return.
As WWE continues to evolve with new storylines and emerging stars, fans eagerly await further developments surrounding Roman Reigns’ future matches, Tommy Fury’s potential debut, and Oba Femi’s next chapter in his wrestling career.