Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Career; NXT’s Oba Femi Remains Absent
In a recent in-depth interview, WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns opened up about his WrestleMania 40 experiences, including the fluctuating main event lineup involving The Rock and Cody Rhodes. Meanwhile, boxing star Tommy Fury has hinted at potential plans to pursue a WWE career, and NXT talent Oba Femi has been notably absent from NXT programming in recent weeks. Here is a detailed update on these key developments within the WWE Universe.
Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Possible Future with The Rock
On Tuesday, Roman Reigns appeared on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, where he elaborated on the behind-the-scenes uncertainty leading up to WrestleMania 40’s main event. Initially, Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, but soon after, he declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship. This sparked speculation that The Rock would take Rhodes’ place in the marquee showdown. However, fan backlash led to a surprising reversal: Rhodes re-entered the title picture, The Rock turned heel as “The Final Boss,” aligned himself with Reigns, and the two cousins teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40. On the second night, Rhodes triumphed over Reigns to capture the championship.
Reigns emphasized that the challenge was what mattered most to him, regardless of the opponent: “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy everyone wanted to dance with. It’s all about defending this thing.”
Regarding the long-anticipated singles match against The Rock that did not materialize at WrestleMania, Reigns hinted it remains a possibility, stating: “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 an unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has since remained off-screen. Speculation is growing that The Rock could reappear at Survivor Series’ upcoming WarGames match involving The Bloodline factions.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future After Backstage Visit
Taking a cue from his older brother Tyson Fury—who had a brief WWE run including a match against Braun Strowman at Crown Jewel 2019—rising boxing star Tommy Fury recently shared moments from a WWE visit that could hint at a wrestling career. A video posted on YouTube showed Tommy backstage during WWE’s UK tour, where he interacted with stars like Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther. He remarked, “I look forward to possibly climbing through those ropes one day. Who knows?”
Tommy Fury is undefeated with a 10-0 professional boxing record and is notably the only fighter to beat Jake Paul—Logan Paul’s brother, a current WWE Superstar. This connection opens intriguing possibilities for future WWE storylines or matches involving the Fury and Paul families that could capture mainstream attention. WWE appears to be keeping the door open for Tommy’s potential wrestling debut.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Sparks Speculation
Reports have emerged that former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been absent from NXT tapings and programming since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Fighting off rumors, Fightful Select noted there have been no indications of backstage appearances for Femi in the past month. The reasons remain unclear but may include a planned reset following two significant losses.
Since debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi enjoyed a strong run — winning the NXT Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee, and holding the title for a record 272 days until his recent defeat by D’Angelo. Fans await whether his absence signals a possible main roster call-up, an injury reprieve, or storyline developments off TV. Upon his return, Femi is widely seen as a top contender to pursue the NXT Championship and challenge current titleholder Trick Williams.
Conclusion
Roman Reigns remains focused on his dominant role within WWE but hints that a blockbuster match against The Rock could still be on the horizon. Meanwhile, Tommy Fury’s backstage WWE encounters and commentary have excited fans about a possible new wrestling career. Finally, NXT star Oba Femi’s extended absence has led to much speculation about his next moves, with the WWE Universe eager for his eventual comeback.
Stay tuned for more updates as the WWE Universe continues to evolve in the lead-up to Survivor Series and beyond.