Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock & Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Expresses WWE Interest; Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
By Mike Chiari, Bleacher Report
November 27, 2024
WWE’s ever-evolving storylines and superstar dynamics continue to capture fans’ attention, with recent developments involving Roman Reigns, The Rock, Cody Rhodes, boxing star Tommy Fury, and NXT’s Oba Femi making headlines this week. Here’s a rundown of the latest from the WWE Universe.
Roman Reigns Opens Up About WrestleMania 40 Opponents: The Rock or Cody Rhodes?
In a revealing interview on the SI Media podcast with Jim Traina, Roman Reigns provided candid thoughts regarding the much-discussed potential matches at WrestleMania 40, specifically facing off against his cousin The Rock or longtime rival Cody Rhodes. Reigns emphasized that being in the main event was what mattered most to him rather than the identity of his opponent.
“It doesn’t matter to me,” Reigns stated. “I was the main event. I’m the guy that everyone wanted to dance with, you know. I’m 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.”
After Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he initially declined to challenge Reigns for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 40, seemingly paving the way for The Rock to step in. However, due to negative fan reaction, Rhodes reversed course, leading to The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. The Rock and Reigns teamed up on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40 to defeat Rhodes and Seth Rollins, but Night 2 saw Rhodes regain the WWE title by beating Reigns.
When asked if a future match versus The Rock remains a possibility, Reigns expressed optimism 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…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 a surprise return at WWE’s Bad Blood event last month but has yet to clarify his future plans. With upcoming high-stakes matches such as the WarGames bout at Survivor Series between new and original Bloodline factions, fans are hopeful The Rock might appear again to build toward a dream match.
Tommy Fury Hints at WWE Future After UK Tour Appearance
Rising boxing star Tommy Fury, brother of former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury, has given a tantalizing hint about entering the pro wrestling world. Posting on YouTube from backstage at a WWE show on the UK tour, Fury expressed his enthusiasm about the experience and hinted at possibly wrestling for WWE one day.
“So guys, that is a night at 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 WWE for showing us such appreciation,” Fury said. “And I look forward to possibly climbing through them ropes one day. Who knows? But it’s been a great night.”
Tommy Fury, undefeated with a 10-0 professional boxing record and the only boxer to beat YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, could be an exciting addition to WWE’s growing crossover appeal, especially given his connection to the Paul family. A speculative tag match featuring the Fury brothers vs. the Paul brothers could attract mainstream audiences and create big promotional buzz for WWE.
Oba Femi’s Extended Absence from NXT Raises Questions
On the developmental front, former NXT North American Champion Oba Femi has been notably absent from WWE programming and tapings for over a month. Since losing his title to Tony D’Angelo at Halloween Havoc on October 27 and subsequently dropping the rematch, Femi has not been spotted backstage or on television.
Fightful Select, citing reports via Ringside News, notes there is no public explanation for Femi’s absence, fueling speculation. Possibilities include a deliberate break for storyline resets following consecutive losses or preparations for a call-up to WWE’s main roster. Another option might be injury-related downtime.
Femi gained rapid momentum after debuting on NXT television in April 2023. He clinched the NXT Breakout Tournament and cashed in his title opportunity to defeat Dragon Lee, holding the North American Championship for a record 272 days before his defeat by D’Angelo. When he returns, Femi is considered a strong contender to pursue the NXT Championship, potentially targeting current titleholder Trick Williams.
What’s Next?
As WWE continues to weave its complex narratives fueled by superstar interplay and fan engagement, each of these stories – from Reigns’ ongoing legacy and The Rock’s intentions, to fresh faces like Tommy Fury and Oba Femi’s trajectory – will be crucial in shaping the company’s future direction through 2025 and beyond.
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Photo Caption: The Rock and Roman Reigns look back at the ring after defeating Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins during the Night 1 main event of WrestleMania 40 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA. (Photo by WWE/Getty Images)
