Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, Potential Rock Match; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; Oba Femi Missing from NXT
In the latest updates from the WWE Universe, Roman Reigns shared his thoughts on his WrestleMania 40 main event against Cody Rhodes and discussed the possibility of a future match with The Rock. Meanwhile, boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at exploring a career in professional wrestling with WWE, and former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from recent NXT programming, sparking speculation about his status.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40 and The Rock
During an interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast with Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns opened up about the dynamic leading up to WrestleMania 40, where he faced Cody Rhodes rather than The Rock in the main event. Reigns stated that it did not bother him who his opponent was, as long as he was in the spotlight:
“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 lead-up to WrestleMania 40 involved some uncertainty, with Cody Rhodes initially winning the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble but opting not to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship. This created expectations of The Rock stepping into that spot. However, after negative fan reaction, Rhodes reversed his decision, The Rock turned heel as "The Final Boss," and aligned with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1, before Rhodes defeated Reigns for the WWE title on Night 2. Asked about the prospect of a future Reigns vs. The Rock showdown, Reigns hinted it could happen if fan interest is strong enough:
“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.”
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 surprised WWE fans with an unannounced return at the Bad Blood event last month but has not revealed his intentions or appeared since. With an intense WarGames match between the new and original Bloodline factions scheduled for Survivor Series, speculation is mounting that The Rock could make another appearance and potentially set the stage for a future clash with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Signals Interest in WWE Career
British professional boxer Tommy Fury, younger brother of former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, dropped hints about pursuing a wrestling career with WWE. Sharing a video on YouTube from backstage during WWE’s UK tour, Fury expressed enthusiasm about the wrestlers and his experience:
“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.”
Tommy Fury’s undefeated boxing record and connection to the Paul family — with whom he has a longstanding rivalry — position him as a potential future WWE star. His brother Tyson Fury also has WWE ties, having competed in a single match at Crown Jewel 2019 and recently making waves by interrupting Austin Theory’s Money in the Bank cash-in attempt at Clash at the Castle 2022. A potential feud or tag team involving the Fury brothers and the Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention and provide compelling storylines in WWE.
Oba Femi’s Absence from NXT Raises Questions
Former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has not been seen on NXT television or backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27, according to reports from Fightful Select.
After an impressive rise through NXT — winning the Breakout Tournament, capturing the North American title with a cash-in against Dragon Lee, and holding the belt for a record 272 days — Femi recently suffered two consecutive losses to D’Angelo. His current absence has not been officially explained and could be due to injury, a planned break, or a possible upcoming main roster call-up.
Femi remains a strong candidate for future title contention in NXT, potentially positioning him to challenge for the NXT Championship and rival current champion Trick Williams upon his return.
Stay tuned as more details emerge from WWE and the evolving career paths of these rising and established stars. For ongoing analysis and discussion, listen to Ring Rust Radio and follow the latest WWE news across Bleacher Report.
[Photo Caption: Roman Reigns and The Rock after their WrestleMania 40 victory against Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, April 2024. (WWE/Getty Images)]