Roman Reigns Opens Up on The Rock and Cody Rhodes, Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future, and Oba Femi’s NXT Absence
Bleacher Report brings you the latest insights from the WWE Universe, covering Roman Reigns’ thoughts on WrestleMania 40 opponents, boxer Tommy Fury’s WWE aspirations, and recent developments regarding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
During a sit-down on the SI Media podcast with Sports Illustrated’s Jimmy Traina, Roman Reigns shared his perspective on the main event scene surrounding WrestleMania 40 and his interactions with Cody Rhodes and The Rock. (The discussion begins around the 31:45 mark of the podcast.)
When asked if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns, the reigning WWE Champion and “Tribal Chief,” clearly stated that the identity of the challenger did not matter to him — only being in the main event counted.
“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,” Reigns said. “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.”
Originally, following Rhodes’ victory in the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, reports suggested Rhodes would forgo challenging Reigns at WrestleMania 40, with The Rock stepping in as the challenger. However, a negative backlash from fans led Rhodes to reverse course and pursue Reigns’ WWE Championship, culminating in The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and teaming with Reigns.
At WrestleMania 40, The Rock and Reigns teamed up on Night 1 to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, but Rhodes ultimately dethroned Reigns for the WWE title on Night 2. Reigns also expressed optimism about a potential future one-on-one match against The Rock, contingent on fan demand.
“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,” Reigns said.
“If that’s what the people want and The People’s Champ is down, I’m sure we can make something happen.”
The Rock recently made a surprise return at Bad Blood last month but has not yet clarified his WWE intentions. The upcoming WarGames match at Survivor Series—featuring both the new and original versions of The Bloodline—could serve as a platform for The Rock’s return and possibly set the stage for a marquee showdown with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Ambitions
In other crossover news, professional boxer Tommy Fury, known for his unbeaten record and ties to the famous Fury boxing family, hinted at a potential future in WWE.
Fury, the younger brother of former world heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, shared a YouTube video capturing his experience backstage at a recent WWE UK tour event. He expressed enthusiasm about the pro wrestling world and the WWE locker room.
“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.”
Tyson Fury himself has some WWE history, competing at Crown Jewel in 2019 and famously knocking out Austin Theory during the 2022 Clash at the Castle event to prevent a Money in the Bank contract cash-in.
With Tommy Fury’s undefeated record and his existing relationship with the Paul brothers—prominent WWE personalities—there could be fertile ground for future storylines, including potential matchups alongside or against Logan Paul and Jake Paul, adding mainstream appeal to WWE’s programming.
Oba Femi’s Recent NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
On the developmental front, reports reveal that Oba Femi, the former NXT North American Champion, has been absent from NXT tapings since late October.
According to Fightful Select (via Ringside News), Femi has not been seen backstage since his loss to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27. The reasons for his absence remain unclear—no official statement has explained whether it’s due to injury, a storyline break, or preparations for a possible call-up to WWE’s main roster.
Femi debuted on NXT television in April 2023 with a strong run, capturing the NXT Breakout Tournament and winning the North American title from Dragon Lee. His 272-day reign was the longest in that title’s history before D’Angelo ended it last month. Femi also lost a rematch at Halloween Havoc.
Whether he is regrouping from recent setbacks or gearing for a bigger role, Femi boasts the credentials to contend for the NXT Championship and could be a top challenger to current titleholder Trick Williams upon returning.
Stay tuned for more updates as Bleacher Report continues to cover the evolving stories and personalities shaping WWE and the wider wrestling world.