Roman Reigns Discusses The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Shows Interest in WWE, and NXT’s Oba Femi Remains Absent
By Mike Chiari | November 27, 2024 | Bleacher Report
Bleacher Report brings the latest updates from the WWE Universe, including exclusive insights from Roman Reigns on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, a surprising revelation from boxer Tommy Fury about WWE, and rumors surrounding NXT’s Oba Femi’s recent absence.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 and Potential Match with The Rock
In a recent interview on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about the shifting WrestleMania 40 main event scenario, which saw WWE initially teasing a dream match between Reigns and The Rock, but ultimately featuring Cody Rhodes instead.
When asked if he was disappointed not to face The Rock, Reigns was emphatic that the opponent did not matter to him — his focus was on defending his championship in the main event spotlight. He stated:
"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. It’s where, we just need to get there and defend this thing. 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 saw Rhodes win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, initially declining a title shot against Reigns and positioning The Rock in the main event instead. Fan backlash prompted WWE to pivot, leading to The Rock turning heel as "The Final Boss," aligning with Reigns. Together, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. Rhodes then overcame Reigns on Night 2 to capture the WWE Championship.
Looking ahead, Reigns addressed the possibility of a future match against The Rock, emphasizing WWE’s responsiveness to fan interest:
"I think our fanbase and the company’s proven that if our fans are loud enough and passionate enough about something, we’re a company who—we’re not being dictated to. We have a vision for where we’re trying to go, but we know who the consumers are. We know who’s paying their hard-earned money, and we want to satisfy those people."
Reigns added,
"If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen."
The Rock recently made a surprise appearance at WWE Bad Blood but has yet to reveal his plans or make another appearance. With the upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series featuring the Bloodline factions, speculation swirls that The Rock could return to set the stage for a showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Eyes a Potential WWE Future
Boxer Tommy Fury, known more widely for his undefeated professional boxing record and sibling link to heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, hinted at a potential future in professional wrestling.
On Sunday, Fury posted a backstage video from WWE’s UK tour on his YouTube channel. Interacting warmly with WWE stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther, Tommy expressed gratitude toward WWE and teased:
"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’s brother Tyson notably had a one-off WWE match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019 and made waves with a memorable interference at Clash at the Castle 2022. Tommy, who defeated Jake Paul and maintains ties with the Paul family, could be an intriguing addition to WWE’s landscape, especially as a potential rival or partner to Logan Paul.
A tag team match featuring the Fury brothers versus the Paul brothers holds mainstream appeal, suggesting WWE may keep Tommy Fury on the radar for future projects.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Since his loss at NXT Halloween Havoc on October 27, former North American Champion Oba Femi has reportedly been missing from WWE’s NXT tapings. According to Fightful Select, there has been no indication of his presence backstage in recent weeks.
The University of Alabama shot put star turned wrestler debuted on NXT television in April 2023 and quickly made waves by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and claiming the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His reign lasted a record 272 days before he lost the title to Tony D’Angelo and faced a subsequent defeat in a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
Femi’s current absence might be a strategic move by NXT to refresh his character following back-to-back losses, or possibly preparation for a main roster call-up. Alternatively, it could be due to injury or other undisclosed factors.
Upon his return, Femi is expected to be a strong contender for the NXT Championship and a logical candidate to take the title from current champion Trick Williams.
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Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns celebrate after their victory over Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins in the main event of WrestleMania 40’s Night 1 — April 6, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
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