Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and Potential Future Showdowns; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Debut; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, covering intriguing insights from Roman Reigns, boxer-turned-wrestling hopeful Tommy Fury, and speculation around NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Plans
Roman Reigns recently opened up during an interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina about his experiences and mindset surrounding WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock—a matchup that had fans and insiders buzzing beforehand.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock in the main event, Reigns was clear: for him, it didn’t matter. “I was the main event. I’m the guy everyone wanted to dance with,” Reigns said. “They’re trying to stop history from happening, trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand.” His focus remained on defending his position and title regardless of the challenger.
The storyline leading into WrestleMania 40 was complex. After Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, suggesting The Rock would be the one stepping into the ring. Yet, fan backlash prompted Rhodes to reverse course, and The Rock took on the heel persona "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns. Together, Reigns and The Rock defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. On Night 2, Rhodes shocked fans by capturing the WWE Championship from Reigns.
With the dream match between The Rock and Reigns yet to materialize, Traina asked if such a showdown remains possible in the future. Reigns responded optimistically, emphasizing the importance of the fans’ voices: “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.” This hints at potential future clashes between family members turned rivals.
The Rock made his surprise return last month at Bad Blood, but his intentions remain unclear. With both the new and original versions of The Bloodline set to battle in a WarGames match at the upcoming Survivor Series, fans may get another opportunity to see The Rock reemerge and possibly build toward his much-anticipated singles match with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Shows Interest in Joining WWE
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, appears to be flirting with the idea of entering the world of professional wrestling.
In a recent YouTube video, Fury showcased footage of him backstage during WWE’s UK tour and expressed gratitude toward the wrestlers and company officials he met, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. “Thank you to WWE for showing us such appreciation. And I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?” he said, hinting at a possible future in WWE.
Tommy Fury is notable in boxing for remaining undefeated with a 10-0 record and for being the only person to defeat Jake Paul in the ring. Given his existing connections with the Paul family and his brother Tyson’s brief WWE involvement, WWE could be gearing up to capitalize on Fury’s crossover appeal. Logan Paul, Jake’s brother and a current WWE Superstar and former U.S. Champion, could become a natural rival. A potential tag team showdown featuring the Fury brothers against the Paul brothers might attract mainstream attention to WWE.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has been notably absent from NXT tapings for over a month, sparking rumors about his status within WWE’s developmental brand, according to Fightful Select sources.
Femi hasn’t been seen on NXT since losing a title rematch to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Since his debut in April 2023, Femi enjoyed a dominant rise including winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American title from Dragon Lee before a surprise loss ended his record-setting 272-day championship reign.
His absence could be attributed to a desire to let the repercussions of his back-to-back losses settle or possibly due to an injury. Another common angle is that WWE might be redirecting him toward the main roster or simply giving him time away to regroup.
When Femi returns to television, many believe he will be positioned as a top contender for the NXT Championship, continuing his trajectory as one of NXT’s premier young talents.
With Roman Reigns weighing potential future clashes with The Rock, Tommy Fury considering a WWE career, and Oba Femi’s status in the air, the WWE landscape remains full of intriguing possibilities as fans anticipate what’s next for these key figures. Stay tuned for more updates from the world of sports entertainment.