Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock, Cody Rhodes, and WrestleMania 40; Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future; Oba Femi Missing from NXT
In recent developments from the WWE Universe, several key figures have been making headlines with insights and rumors surrounding their careers and the company’s future. Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on past WrestleMania opponents The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer Tommy Fury hinted at a possible move into professional wrestling, and NXT star Oba Femi has reportedly been absent from recent programming.
Roman Reigns Discusses WrestleMania 40 and Potential Rock Match
Roman Reigns appeared on Sports Illustrated’s podcast with Jimmy Traina, where he addressed the main event scenario of WrestleMania 40, which featured himself defending the WWE Championship against Cody Rhodes rather than facing The Rock, as had been speculated for months. Reigns emphasized that his primary focus was being in the main event spotlight, regardless of the opponent.
"It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with," Reigns said. He added that his role as champion was to defend his title against those trying to stop history from unfolding.
The lead-up to WrestleMania 40 saw some twists: after Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the title, seemingly paving the way for The Rock to step in. However, fan backlash led to Rhodes reversing that decision, culminating in The Rock turning heel and aligning with Reigns as “The Final Boss.” The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes reclaiming the championship by defeating Reigns on Night 2. Regarding a future showdown with The Rock, Reigns indicated that it could happen if fans demand it. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he said. The Rock made a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but hasn’t appeared since. With an upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring both new and original members of The Bloodline, speculation is building that The Rock might return to WWE programming soon, potentially setting the stage for a cousin vs. cousin match.
Tommy Fury Expresses Interest in WWE
Boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has teased a future in WWE after spending time backstage during the company’s recent UK tour. Posting on YouTube, Tommy expressed appreciation for WWE Superstars such as Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, and mentioned a desire to “possibly climb through those ropes one day.”
The 25-year-old Fury is undefeated in his professional boxing career and notably handed Jake Paul a loss, further adding interest to his possible crossover to wrestling. The familial link to Tyson Fury, who previously appeared in WWE and notably defeated Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019, adds pedigree to the prospect.
Given WWE’s connection with the Paul family through Logan Paul—a prominent WWE Superstar—Tommy Fury could be poised for intriguing storylines, including a potential Fury brothers vs. Paul brothers showcase, which would appeal to fans beyond traditional wrestling audiences.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen on NXT television or backstage since October 27, when he lost the North American title to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc. Fightful Select reports there have been no indications of Femi’s presence at NXT tapings over the past month.
Since debuting on TV in April 2023, Femi had been on a dominant run—winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and holding the North American Championship for a record 272 days until his recent loss. Following the defeat, Femi also lost a rematch on the same event, after which he vanished from WWE programming.
His current status remains unclear; it could be a strategy to allow him time to regroup from two consecutive losses, preparation for a main roster call-up, or resting an injury. When he returns, Femi is considered a strong contender to chase the NXT Championship, possibly positioning him as the next big challenger for champion Trick Williams.
Fans and insiders alike will be watching closely for updates on Femi’s status as well as potential storylines involving Reigns, The Rock, and Tommy Fury’s WWE aspirations.
For more updates and detailed discussions on these topics and other wrestling news, listeners can tune into the latest episode of Ring Rust Radio.