Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents, Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Raises Questions
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates and insider perspectives from the WWE Universe as some of wrestling’s hottest topics continue to unfold.
Roman Reigns Shares Thoughts on The Rock and Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 40
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experience, specifically discussing the main event opponents — The Rock and Cody Rhodes. Reigns revealed that despite talk of either The Rock or Rhodes facing him, he was focused on being in the main event rather than who his opponent was.
“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,” Reigns said. “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 initially positioned Rhodes as the challenger after winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, only for him to decide against challenging Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, which seemingly set up The Rock for the spot. However, fan backlash prompted Rhodes to reverse his stance, turning The Rock heel as “The Final Boss” aligned with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. The following night, Rhodes defeated Reigns to capture the WWE Championship.
When asked about a potential future match with The Rock, Reigns expressed optimism, emphasizing the influence of fan demand. “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 last month at Bad Blood but has not elaborated on his WWE plans since. Given the upcoming high-profile WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring new and original Bloodline factions, speculation is rife that The Rock may return to build toward a showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, teased a potential foray into WWE in a recent YouTube video. While backstage during a WWE UK tour stop, Fury interacted with several WWE Superstars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, expressing appreciation for the company and the experience.
“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,” Fury said. “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, who is undefeated in professional boxing and notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, may be eyed as a future WWE star. His relationship with the Paul family positions him as a natural potential counterpart to Logan Paul, the WWE Superstar and former United States Champion. WWE could explore a Paul brothers vs. Fury brothers feud or tag team scenario to appeal to mainstream audiences.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
NXT fans have noticed the absence of former North American Champion Oba Femi from recent tapings, with Fightful Select reporting no sightings of Femi since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Femi enjoyed a strong start to his WWE career, debuting on NXT television in April 2023, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, and capturing the North American Championship by defeating Dragon Lee. He held the title for a record 272 days before surprisingly dropping it to D’Angelo last month. Following a rematch loss to D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc, Femi has not appeared on NXT TV.
The reasons behind his absence remain unclear. It could indicate a deliberate break for character reset, potential injury, or preparation for a main roster call-up. Alternatively, NXT creative may be holding him off TV to allow time for the impact of his recent defeats to settle.
When Femi returns, many expect him to be a serious contender for the NXT Championship, potentially challenging current titleholder Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and the latest WWE programming for updates on these storylines and more from the world of professional wrestling.