Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Spot; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates and insider news from the world of WWE, including Roman Reigns’ reflections on WrestleMania 40, boxer Tommy Fury’s interest in WWE, and recent rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on Facing Cody Rhodes Instead of The Rock at WrestleMania 40
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about the main event decision for WrestleMania 40 and his feelings about facing Cody Rhodes instead of his cousin, The Rock.
When asked if he felt disappointed about not facing The Rock, Reigns dismissed the notion, emphasizing that the most important thing was being in the main event spotlight:
“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. It’s where, we just need to get there and defend this thing. 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.”
Following Rhodes’ victory at the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, there was initial confusion when Rhodes declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, leading to speculation The Rock would step into that role. Fan backlash prompted Rhodes to change course and challenge Reigns instead, while The Rock turned heel—rebranding as The Final Boss and aligning himself with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, Night 1 saw The Rock and Reigns team up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins. However, Rhodes ultimately captured the WWE title from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
While the long-anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock match did not materialize, Reigns hinted to Traina that it remains a possibility—contingent on fan interest:
“I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, we’re a company who—we’re not being dictated to. We have a vision for where we’re trying to go, but we know who the consumers are. We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people.”
He added:
“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 programming last month at Bad Blood but has not yet revealed his intentions or reappeared since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring different iterations of The Bloodline, fans may get another chance to see The Rock make waves and potentially set up a future showdown with Roman Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Future After Backstage Visit
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has teased a potential venture into professional wrestling with WWE.
Fury shared a YouTube video on Sunday showcasing his backstage experience at a recent WWE UK tour event, where he met several WWE Superstars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. In the video, Tommy expressed gratitude and hinted at future ambitions:
“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. 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.”
Tommy Fury, 25, has kept a spotless 10-0 record in professional boxing and famously defeated YouTube personality Jake Paul. The connection with the Paul family, along with his family’s ties to WWE through Tyson Fury—who has made several WWE appearances including a bout against Braun Strowman—could position Tommy well for a crossover from boxing to wrestling.
WWE fans may be intrigued by the possibility of a tag team showdown pitting the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers, with Logan Paul already an established WWE Superstar and former United States Champion.
Oba Femi’s Recent NXT Absence Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings and television for about a month, according to sources at Fightful Select.
Femi’s last in-ring appearance saw him drop the North American Championship in a surprise loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, ending a record-setting 272-day title reign. He then lost a rematch against D’Angelo at the same event.
The reasons behind Femi’s absence remain unclear. Some speculate that it could be a break to recover from injuries or a strategic move by NXT management to allow him to regroup after consecutive losses. Another possibility is that he is being prepared for a call-up to WWE’s main roster.
Since debuting on televised NXT in April 2023, Femi built momentum with a dominant run—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee. Despite recent setbacks, he remains a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship upon his return.
Stay connected to Bleacher Report for further developments on WWE storylines, talent news, and more wrestling coverage.