Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; Oba Femi’s Absence Raises Questions in NXT
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, covering candid insights from Roman Reigns, a potential crossover from boxing to wrestling, and intriguing developments in WWE’s NXT brand.
Roman Reigns Opens Up on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
In a revealing interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE superstar Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on some of the biggest storylines surrounding WrestleMania 40 and his interactions with The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns, known as “The Tribal Chief,” reflected on the shifting plans for the WrestleMania 40 main event, which had fans anticipating either a family showdown against his cousin The Rock or a match with Cody Rhodes. When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns dismissed the notion, emphasizing his mindset throughout the process:
"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’ win at the 2024 Royal Rumble, he initially declared he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, which fueled speculation that The Rock would step into that spot. However, fan backlash led to Rhodes reversing course, and The Rock made a heel turn as “The Final Boss,” forming an alliance with Reigns.
The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, but in the main event on Night 2, Rhodes captured the WWE Championship by defeating Reigns.
When asked about the possibility of a future one-on-one match between The Rock and himself, Reigns said it remains on the table if fans demand it:
"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."
"If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
The Rock’s surprise return at last month’s Bad Blood event left fans speculating about his next move, and with an upcoming WarGames match involving The Bloodline at Survivor Series, The Rock’s involvement could reignite the family rivalry on WWE’s grand stage.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
British professional boxer Tommy Fury appears to be exploring a potential career in professional wrestling. Fury, 25, posted a backstage video from a WWE event during the company’s UK tour. In the video, he praised WWE Superstar Randy Orton and other talents such as Cody Rhodes and Gunther, while expressing a desire to “possibly climb through the ropes one day.”
Tommy is the younger brother of Tyson Fury, a former heavyweight boxing champion who has had limited wrestling appearances, including a match at WWE’s Crown Jewel 2019 and an infamous incident preventing Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in at 2022’s Clash at the Castle.
Maintaining an unbeaten 10-0 boxing record, Tommy Fury is also notable for being the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, a prominent figure in boxing and WWE. Given Tommy’s connections and background, WWE could see him as a future opponent for Logan Paul, Jake’s brother and an active WWE Superstar, potentially sparking a high-profile feud that crosses over boxing and wrestling fans alike.
Oba Femi’s Mysterious NXT Absence
Fans of NXT have noticed the absence of Oba Femi in recent tapings, sparking rumors about the former North American Champion’s status. According to reports via Fightful Select, Femi has not been seen backstage or on television since suffering a defeat to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. After a strong start to his WWE career—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American title, and boasting an impressive dominant run—Femi’s consecutive losses to D’Angelo marked a turning point. His 272-day title reign is a record in NXT, making his loss a significant moment.
The reason behind his current absence is unclear. It may be a strategic decision by NXT officials to allow him time to recover his momentum or possibly a precursor to a main roster call-up. Alternatively, Femi might be recuperating from injury or preparing for a refreshed storyline.
When he returns, Femi is widely regarded as a strong contender to challenge for the NXT Championship, possibly positioned to dethrone current champion Trick Williams.
Stay Tuned
Wrestling fans can keep up with more updates, storylines, and exclusive interviews by tuning into Ring Rust Radio and following Bleacher Report for all the latest news across the sports and entertainment worlds.
Tags: WWE, Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury, Oba Femi, NXT, WrestleMania 40, Survivor Series, Professional Wrestling