Roman Reigns Reflects on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
The WWE Universe continues to buzz with developments surrounding some of its biggest names. Recent interviews and reports have shed light on Roman Reigns’ thoughts about The Rock and Cody Rhodes, boxer-turned-celebrity Tommy Fury’s potential WWE future, and rumors concerning NXT star Oba Femi’s recent absence. Here’s a detailed look at these latest updates.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 Opponents and Possible Rock Match
In a recent interview on Sports Illustrated’s SI Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about the main event scenario at WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes instead of The Rock, as initially speculated. Reigns emphasized that for him, it was all about being the main event and defending his title, regardless of the opponent.
Reigns stated, “It doesn’t matter to me. I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with. They were trying to stop history from happening, trying to take us off the pinnacle. It was the same task at hand for me.”
The WWE storyline had seen Rhodes initially win the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble match but declare he would not challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40, with The Rock seemingly taking that spot. However, after fans reacted negatively to the change, Rhodes reversed course, leading to The Rock turning heel, becoming “The Final Boss,” and aligning with Reigns. These developments culminated in Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 with The Rock and Reigns defeating Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins, followed by Rhodes winning the WWE Championship from Reigns in the Night 2 main event.
Despite the much-anticipated Rock vs. Reigns matchup not occurring at WrestleMania 40, Reigns sees potential for it to happen down the line if fans make their voices heard. “If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen,” he noted. Fans can also look forward to potential surprises, as The Rock made an unannounced return to WWE programming last month at the Bad Blood event but has remained mostly absent since. The upcoming Survivor Series, featuring a WarGames match involving The Bloodline factions, could provide a platform for further developments, possibly setting the stage for a future clash between the two cousins.
Tommy Fury Explores WWE Opportunities
British professional boxer Tommy Fury has teased interest in the pro wrestling world, particularly WWE. In a YouTube video posted recently, Fury showed footage from backstage at a WWE event during the company’s UK tour. He expressed enthusiasm about his experience and hinted at a potential future in wrestling.
Fury said, “So guys, that is a night at the WWE complete. All the wrestlers showing love. Big up to Randy Orton. Absolutely amazing guy. Big up to Cody Rhodes, all of them, Gunther, the lot of them. 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.”
At 25 years old, Tommy is the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who had a brief WWE stint, notably defeating Braun Strowman by count-out at Crown Jewel 2019. Tommy himself boasts an undefeated professional boxing record and is known for being the only person to have defeated YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul. His relationship with the Paul family—and Logan Paul’s presence in WWE as a former U.S. champion—could pave the way for intriguing wrestling storylines involving the Fury and Paul brothers, possibly appealing to a wider mainstream audience.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Meanwhile, reports have surfaced about former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi’s unexplained absence from recent NXT tapings. According to Fightful Select, there have been no indications of his presence backstage since October 27, shortly after his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc. The reasons for his absence remain unclear.
Femi, who debuted on NXT television in April 2023, quickly rose to prominence by winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and capturing the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. His title reign lasted a record-setting 272 days before Tony D’Angelo ended it last month. Femi then also lost the rematch to D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc.
His absence could be due to various factors, including injury, a potential call-up to WWE’s main roster, or simply a strategic decision by NXT officials to allow time for recovery after consecutive losses. When Femi returns, many expect him to be a significant contender for the NXT Championship.
In Summary
The WWE landscape remains dynamic, with Roman Reigns reflecting on past rivalries and hinting at future possibilities with The Rock, Tommy Fury signaling openness to joining WWE’s ranks, and Oba Femi’s situation sparking curiosity among fans. As these stories evolve, WWE enthusiasts have much to anticipate in the coming weeks and months, both in storylines and possible new talent arrivals.