Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock, Cody Rhodes Rivalries; Tommy Fury Contemplates WWE Future; Oba Femi’s Mysterious NXT Absence
In a recent interview and series of developments, the WWE Universe has been abuzz with updates concerning Roman Reigns, boxing star Tommy Fury, and NXT standout Oba Femi. Here is an overview of the latest insider news shaping the wrestling world.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40 Matchups and Future Plans with The Rock
During an appearance on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, WWE’s top star Roman Reigns shared his candid thoughts about the main event of WrestleMania 40. Originally, the WWE storyline seemed to swing between setting up Reigns to face either The Rock—his cousin and WWE legend—or Cody Rhodes as the centerpiece of the event.
When asked if he was disappointed that he ended up facing Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns was clear he focused more on being featured in the main event rather than which opponent he faced. He said, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with… They are trying to take us off the pinnacle right now, so it was the same task in hand for me.”
Rhodes, who won the 2024 Royal Rumble, initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania, sparking rumors that The Rock would fill that spot. However, fan backlash over the booking decisions led to storyline twists, including The Rock turning heel and aligning with Reigns. On Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns defeated Rhodes and Seth Rollins, while Rhodes defeated Reigns on Night 2 to capture the WWE Championship.
Though the anticipated one-on-one clash between The Rock and Reigns did not occur at WrestleMania, Reigns did not dismiss the possibility happening in the future, emphasizing that "if the fans are loud enough and passionate enough," such a match could materialize. He 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 has since made a surprise appearance at WWE’s Bad Blood event but has remained mostly absent from programming since. Speculation now centers on whether he will return at Survivor Series to continue the family saga, potentially building toward a marquee showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases Potential Wrestling Career with WWE
British professional boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at exploring a career in professional wrestling with WWE. Recently, Fury posted a backstage video from a WWE event during the company’s UK tour, where he expressed enthusiasm for WWE’s community and the possibility of stepping into the squared circle one day.
“Big up to Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, Gunther, the lot of them,” Fury said in his video. “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 Fury is the younger brother of Tyson Fury—former world heavyweight boxing champion—who previously dabbled in WWE. Tyson had a one-time WWE match at Crown Jewel 2019 and famously knocked out Austin Theory during a WWE event crowd appearance in 2022. With his undefeated professional boxing record of 10-0 and the distinction of being the only boxer to defeat Jake Paul, Tommy Fury’s crossover into WWE could add fresh intrigue. Given his connections to the Paul family, WWE fans and analysts are already speculating about potential storylines involving Logan Paul, a current WWE Superstar, setting the stage for high-profile matches or even tag team pairings between the Fury and Paul brothers.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has reportedly been absent from NXT tapings and programming for roughly a month since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. Reports from Fightful Select indicate no backstage sightings of Femi during recent sessions.
After debuting on NXT television in April 2023, Femi quickly rose through the ranks with a dominant run that included winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. He held the title for a record-breaking 272 days before losing it to D’Angelo last month. Following a rematch loss at Halloween Havoc, Femi has been out of the NXT spotlight.
The reasons behind his absence have not been confirmed and could vary from injury recovery to a creative reset after consecutive defeats. Some speculate that Femi may be preparing for a main roster call-up or waiting out the storyline impact of his recent losses.
When he returns, Femi is widely viewed as a strong contender for the NXT Championship, capable of taking the title from current champion Trick Williams and continuing his ascent within WWE.
Stay tuned with Bleacher Report and Ring Rust Radio for ongoing coverage of all the latest wrestling news, rumors, and analysis. The WWE Universe continues to evolve with plenty of exciting storylines on the horizon.