Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and WrestleMania 40; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions; NXT Star Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Raises Eyebrows
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report dives into the latest developments from the WWE universe, highlighting insights from Roman Reigns about WrestleMania 40, boxer Tommy Fury’s potential WWE future, and rumors surrounding NXT talent Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and the Prospect of Facing The Rock
Roman Reigns recently appeared on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina to discuss his WrestleMania 40 experiences, particularly about the shifting opponent plans involving Cody Rhodes and The Rock.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns emphasized his focus remained on his main event status rather than who was across the ring. Calling himself “the hot chick” everyone wanted a shot at, Reigns said (via Ringside News):
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. 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.”
Leading up to WrestleMania 40, after Rhodes won the 2024 Royal Rumble men’s match, it was initially suggested he wouldn’t challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, with The Rock seemingly slated for that spot. Fan backlash on this led to a swift change, with Rhodes eventually deciding to challenge Reigns, prompting The Rock’s heel turn as “The Final Boss” and an alliance with Reigns.
On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, Reigns and The Rock teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, while Rhodes claimed the WWE title from Reigns in Night 2’s main event.
Regarding the long-anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock dream match that didn’t materialize, Traina asked if such a bout might still happen. Reigns responded optimistically, explaining:
“I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, … 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 made a surprise WWE return last month at Bad Blood but has not clarified future plans or appeared since. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring new and original versions of The Bloodline, the stage could be set for The Rock’s potential return and a possible showdown with his cousin.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential WWE Involvement After Backstage Visit
British boxer Tommy Fury has teased the idea of venturing into professional wrestling with WWE, sparking excitement among fans of both sports.
Fury posted a video on YouTube showing his time backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event, where he mingled with various WWE Superstars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He shared his thoughts on the experience (via Ringside News):
“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, is the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who briefly dabbled in WWE, famously winning against Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019 and knocking out Austin Theory at Clash at the Castle 2022 to prevent a Money in the Bank cash-in.
Tommy boasts a pristine boxing record of 10-0 and holds the distinction of being the only boxer to hand Jake Paul a defeat. Given Tommy’s connections with the Paul family, a WWE career could eventually lead to intriguing matchups, particularly against Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. A tag team feud pitting the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
NXT’s former North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from WWE programming for over a month, according to Fightful Select (reported via Ringside News).
Femi has not been backstage at NXT tapings following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reason behind his absence remains unclear—it could be a brief hiatus for recovery or creative regrouping after two crucial defeats.
Femi made a strong impact since his televised NXT debut in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His 272-day title reign set a record before ending with the loss to D’Angelo. After dropping both the title and the subsequent rematch, Femi has not appeared on NXT TV.
Speculation ranges from Femi preparing for a main roster call-up to simply being given time off to let the storyline settle. Fans and insiders believe he could soon mount a chase for the NXT Championship, potentially challenging current titleholder Trick Williams.
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Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns reflect after their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at WrestleMania 40 Night 1 in Philadelphia, April 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)