Roman Reigns Talks The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Spot; Oba Femi Absent from NXT
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report – November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings you the latest updates from the WWE Universe, featuring candid insights from Roman Reigns, potential WWE aspirations from boxer Tommy Fury, and current rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Future Possibilities with The Rock
At a recent SI Media podcast interview with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s Roman Reigns opened up about his experiences heading into and during WrestleMania 40 and shared his thoughts on fellow superstars The Rock and Cody Rhodes.
Reigns was asked whether he felt disappointed about facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock in the high-profile WrestleMania 40 main event. Reigns dismissed the notion of disappointment, emphasizing that being in the main event was what mattered most to him:
“It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… It was the same task in hand for me.”
The backstory was that after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match, he initially stated he would not challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, which opened the door for The Rock to potentially step into the title match spot. However, due to fan backlash against that setup, Rhodes reversed his decision, leading to The Rock turning heel and adopting the persona of “The Final Boss,” aligning himself with Reigns.
On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins. Then, on Night 2, Rhodes defeated Reigns to claim the WWE Championship.
When asked about the possibility of a future Reigns vs. The Rock showdown, Reigns acknowledged the chance depends largely on fan interest:
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock made a surprise WWE program return last month at Bad Blood but has not clarified his WWE intentions or appeared since. With an upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series pitting different factions of The Bloodline against each other, there is speculation this event could serve as a stage for The Rock to show up again, possibly laying the groundwork for a future clash with Reigns.
Boxer Tommy Fury Hints at Possible WWE Career
Tommy Fury, younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, may be eyeing a future in professional wrestling with WWE.
In a YouTube video posted on Sunday, Fury showed footage of himself backstage at a WWE show during the company’s recent UK tour. While there, he mingled with WWE stars, including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
He expressed enthusiasm about the experience and hinted at a possible wrestling career:
“I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury, 25, currently holds an undefeated professional boxing record (10-0) and is the only boxer to have defeated Jake Paul. Given the feud-like dynamics involving the Paul brothers in WWE, Tommy Fury could be a compelling addition to storylines involving Logan Paul, himself a WWE Superstar and former United States Champion.
With Tommy’s family ties and athletic credentials, WWE may see strong mainstream appeal in cultivating him as a future wrestling talent.
NXT Star Oba Femi’s Recent Absence Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from WWE NXT tapings for the past month. Following his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, reports indicate Femi has not been spotted backstage or on television since.
The reason for Femi’s unexplained absence remains unknown. Fightful Select suggests it could be a break to reset after two consecutive losses, or possibly a prelude to a main roster call-up or injury.
Since his televised debut in April 2023, Femi built momentum by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His impressive 272-day title reign ended with his surprising defeat to D’Angelo, who then defeated him again at Halloween Havoc.
When Femi eventually returns, WWE could position him as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, potentially setting him up to challenge Trick Williams.
For more updates on WWE and other sports, stay tuned to Bleacher Report.
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