Roman Reigns Talks The Rock and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; Oba Femi’s NXT Status Rumored
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates and insider news from the WWE Universe, including insights from Roman Reigns, the potential WWE future of boxer Tommy Fury, and recent rumors concerning NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Possible Match With The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE’s "Tribal Chief," Roman Reigns, opened up about the build-up to WrestleMania 40 and the changing plans around his main event opponent. Initially, fans anticipated a historic clash between Reigns and his cousin, The Rock. However, the eventual matchup saw Reigns defending the WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns was unapologetically confident, emphasizing his role as the "main event" and the "guy everyone wanted to dance with." He explained, "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."
The storyline for WrestleMania 40 shifted multiple times. After Cody Rhodes won the men’s Royal Rumble earlier in 2024 and initially chose not to challenge Reigns, The Rock seemed set to fill that spot. However, negative fan reaction led Rhodes to reverse his decision, which resulted in a heel turn for The Rock, now billed as "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, while Rhodes reclaimed the WWE title from Reigns in the main event of Night 2. Roman Reigns also hinted at the possibility of a future match with The Rock, saying, "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 recent unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood pay-per-view, without revealing his intentions, has fueled speculation about a potential showdown between the cousins, especially with their factions colliding soon in a WarGames match at Survivor Series.
Boxer Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE
Tommy Fury, a professional boxer and younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has hinted at a possible career in pro wrestling with WWE. Posting a YouTube video from backstage at a WWE event during the company’s UK tour, Fury expressed enthusiasm for the wrestling world.
"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," he said, adding, "I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows?"
Tommy Fury maintains an undefeated boxing record and notably defeated Jake Paul, a figure known in both the boxing and wrestling worlds. Given his family ties and boxing success, Fury is well-positioned as a potential future WWE star, possibly in a storyline involving the Paul brothers, including Logan Paul, who is an active WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. Such a rivalry or tag team angle between the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could attract broad mainstream interest.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Absence Sparks Rumors
Oba Femi, a rising star in WWE’s NXT brand and a former North American Champion, has been absent from recent NXT tapings, sparking speculation about the reason behind his disappearance. Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been seen backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, 2024. Femi made an impactful NXT debut in April 2023, capturing the NXT Breakout Tournament and subsequently cashing in to win the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. He held the title a record 272 days before unexpectedly losing it to D’Angelo last month and then suffering a rematch loss at Halloween Havoc.
Although no official word has emerged regarding Femi’s status, various theories suggest he may be taking time off to recover, possibly preparing for a main roster call-up, or is being withheld from television to rebuild his character after recent setbacks.
Fans anticipate Femi’s eventual return targeting the NXT Championship, where he could be a compelling challenger to titleholder Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continuing updates on WWE storylines, talent movements, and exclusive interviews. For in-depth wrestling discussions, listen to Ring Rust Radio, available on all major podcast platforms.
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Photo credit: WWE/Getty Images
Roman Reigns and The Rock celebrating their victory at WrestleMania 40, April 6, 2024, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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