Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock & Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE, and Oba Femi’s NXT Status
The WWE Universe has been buzzing with several intriguing developments recently, covering everything from Roman Reigns’ reflections on major WrestleMania 40 moments to the potential WWE aspirations of boxer Tommy Fury, along with the curious absence of NXT star Oba Femi from recent tapings. Here’s a detailed rundown of the latest news shaping the wrestling world.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Main Event & The Rock Rematch Prospects
Roman Reigns recently sat down with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina on the SI Media podcast, where he shared candid insights about the lead-up and aftermath of WrestleMania 40. The event notably featured a high-profile main event storyline that initially appeared to be heading towards a clash between Reigns and The Rock. However, in the end, Reigns faced Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns stated it never mattered to him who he was wrestling as long as he was in the main event spotlight. He described himself as “the hot chick everyone wanted to take out” in WWE’s landscape, emphasizing that the focus was on defending his position at the top and not the individual opponent. Reigns explained, "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 shifted when Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but initially declined to challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This led to speculation The Rock would fill that spot. Yet due to negative fan feedback, Rhodes reversed his stance, setting up a sequence where The Rock turned heel, adopting the moniker “The Final Boss” and aligned with Reigns. Together, Reigns and The Rock defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, before Rhodes captured the WWE Championship from Reigns the following night.
Looking ahead, Traina asked if a Reigns vs. The Rock match remains possible. Roman was optimistic but stressed fan demand’s importance, noting, "If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen." With The Rock’s surprise return at the recent Bad Blood event and WWE’s WarGames match looming at Survivor Series, fans might not have to wait long for a showdown between the two cousins.
Tommy Fury Considers WWE Career After Visiting UK Shows
Boxer Tommy Fury, 25, who has created his own niche in professional boxing with an undefeated record and a notable victory over Jake Paul, has hinted at a possible future in WWE. Sharing a backstage video from a recent WWE UK tour on YouTube, Fury expressed enthusiasm for the pro wrestling scene and appreciation for meeting WWE superstars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
In his message, Fury said, "I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?" This potential crossover is notable given his brother Tyson Fury’s previous WWE involvement. Tyson famously defeated Braun Strowman by count-out in his sole WWE match at Crown Jewel 2019 and was recently involved in a high-profile moment at WWE Clash at the Castle 2022. Tommy’s connection with the Paul brothers further adds intrigue — particularly as Logan Paul is an established WWE Superstar. The prospect of a tag-team feud involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could captivate fans from both boxing and wrestling worlds.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions on His Future
Meanwhile, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from WWE’s NXT tapings for about a month. Having lost the North American title to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27 and subsequently dropping the rematch, Femi has not appeared on NXT television since.
Fightful Select reports there has been no indication of injury or official explanation for Femi’s disappearance from backstage activity. It is possible that WWE is allowing him time to recover from consecutive losses or to formulate plans for his career trajectory. Since debuting in April 2023, Femi had an impressive run, including winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and holding the North American title for a record 272 days.
Fans speculate that when Femi returns, he could be positioned as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, possibly challenging current titleholder Trick Williams. Regardless of the reasons for his current absence, Femi remains a significant talent to watch in the NXT brand.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for ongoing coverage and updates on all things WWE and pro wrestling.
Source: Interview excerpts and reports via Ringside News, Fightful Select, and Sports Illustrated’s SI Media Podcast. Photographs WWE/Getty Images.