Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Shows WWE Interest; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Raises Questions
The WWE universe has been buzzing with recent developments involving some of its prominent personalities and rising stars. Bleacher Report brings you the latest insights, including Roman Reigns’ thoughts on WrestleMania 40 matchups, boxer Tommy Fury’s tease about a WWE future, and intriguing rumors surrounding NXT standout Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Matchups
In a candid interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, WWE’s top star Roman Reigns shared his perspective on the shifting plans for WrestleMania 40’s main event. Initially, Reigns faced uncertainty over whether he’d square off against The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns was clear that the opponent didn’t matter much as long as he was the main event: "I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with. It didn’t matter who it is. They are trying to stop history from happening… so it was the same task in hand for me."
The lead-up to WrestleMania 40 saw some drama: After winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, Rhodes initially said he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship, which fueled speculation that The Rock would step in. Displeased fans prompted Rhodes to reverse his stance, resulting in The Rock turning heel and teaming with Reigns as part of an alliance called The Final Boss.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns defeated Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, but Rhodes reclaimed the WWE title from Reigns in the main event of Night 2. The highly anticipated one-on-one match between The Rock and Reigns, therefore, did not materialize.
Traina questioned Reigns about the prospects of a future clash with The Rock, to which Reigns replied that fan interest would be critical: "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 surprise return to WWE programming at last month’s Bad Blood event rekindled excitement, though his intentions remain unclear. With The Bloodline factions set to collide in a WarGames match at the upcoming Survivor Series, many speculate it could be the perfect stage for The Rock to reappear and possibly set up a showdown with his cousin Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, brother of former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, appeared backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event and shared his enthusiasm for the company on YouTube. Expressing gratitude toward WWE talents like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, Fury remarked, "I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night."
Tommy Fury, 25, boasts an undefeated boxing record and is notably the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul, who himself has ventured into the wrestling world as a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion.
Given Tommy’s boxing pedigree and family ties—his brother Tyson had a brief WWE involvement including a match at Crown Jewel 2019 and a memorable moment at Clash at the Castle 2022—WWE may consider him a compelling addition. A tag team involving the Fury brothers meeting the Paul brothers could attract more mainstream attention and potentially generate significant fan interest.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Sources at Fightful Select have noted that former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been absent from NXT tapings since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. This marks roughly a month without any on-screen appearances or backstage involvement.
Femi enjoyed a strong run after debuting on NXT television in April 2023, winning the prestigious NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship by cashing in on Dragon Lee. His championship reign lasted a record 272 days before D’Angelo ended it. After a subsequent rematch loss at Halloween Havoc, Femi has yet to return to the brand.
While the reasons for his disappearance are unclear, possibilities include a strategic break following two high-profile losses, injury considerations, or potential preparation for a call-up to WWE’s main roster. Should he return, many analysts envision Femi as a credible contender for the NXT Championship, potentially poised to challenge current titleholder Trick Williams.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report and Ring Rust Radio for ongoing coverage and analysis of all things WWE, including updates on these developing stories and more.