Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Rumors
By Mike Chiari | Bleacher Report | November 27, 2024
The WWE universe has been abuzz with recent developments involving some of the company’s top stars and promising newcomers. From Roman Reigns sharing insights on the high-profile WrestleMania 40 main event, to boxing star Tommy Fury hinting at a potential future in professional wrestling, and reports of Oba Femi’s absence from NXT, here’s the latest update on all things WWE.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently sat down for an interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, shedding light on his WrestleMania 40 experience and the speculation surrounding his opponents.
Reigns was initially expected to face his cousin, The Rock, in the WrestleMania 40 main event, but the card went through a series of changes, ultimately leading to a match against Cody Rhodes instead. When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns was unfazed:
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I’m the hot chick, everyone wanted to take me out. It was the same task in hand for me.”
Rhodes had initially declared he wouldn’t challenge for the WWE Championship after winning the men’s 2024 Royal Rumble but reversed course following fan backlash, which paved the way for The Rock to turn heel, dub himself The Final Boss, and align with Reigns.
On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, Reigns teamed with The Rock to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins. The following night, Rhodes dethroned Reigns for the WWE Championship, delivering a memorable conclusion to the event.
Reigns was also asked about the possibility of a future match against The Rock. He indicated that the potential showdown depends largely on fan demand:
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
Adding to speculation, The Rock made an unexpected return at last month’s WWE event Bad Blood but has yet to clarify his intentions. With an intense Bloodline WarGames match scheduled at Survivor Series, fans are hopeful for another appearance from The Rock, possibly setting the stage for a future clash with Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Teases WWE Ambitions
Tommy Fury, the undefeated British boxer and younger brother of former world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury, has hinted at exploring opportunities in professional wrestling.
In a recent YouTube video documenting his experience backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury expressed gratitude for the warm welcome from WWE talent, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
“I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tyson Fury previously dabbled in WWE, famously defeating Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and making a notable impact at the 2022 Clash at the Castle event by knocking out Austin Theory to prevent a Money in the Bank cash-in.
Tommy Fury has carved his own path in combat sports, boasting a perfect 10-0 boxing record and being the only fighter to defeat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul to date. Given his ties to the Paul family and Logan Paul’s prominence in WWE, a potential wrestling rivalry or tag match featuring the Fury and Paul brothers could entice a wider audience.
Oba Femi Absent from NXT Amidst Rumors
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has not been seen at NXT tapings in over a month following a tough loss at Halloween Havoc.
According to Fightful Select, there have been no backstage sightings of Femi since his defeat to Tony D’Angelo on October 27, which concluded his record-setting 272-day title reign. Femi also lost the immediate rematch at the same event.
Femi’s absence has sparked rumors, though the reason remains unclear. Perspectives range from WWE possibly giving him time off to recover from injury, allowing him to regroup after consecutive losses, or preparing for a future call-up to WWE’s main roster.
Since debuting on NXT in April 2023, Femi won the NXT Breakout Tournament and captured the North American Championship, establishing himself as a rising star. When he returns, expectations are high for him to contend for the NXT Championship and continue his ascent.
Stay tuned for further updates as these stories develop in the dynamic world of WWE.