Roman Reigns Reflects on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes; Tommy Fury Eyes WWE Future; NXT’s Oba Femi Absent
By Mike Chiari | Bleacher Report | November 27, 2024
Bleacher Report brings the latest updates from the WWE Universe, highlighting insights from Roman Reigns, Tommy Fury’s potential wrestling aspirations, and rumors surrounding NXT star Oba Femi.
Roman Reigns on WrestleMania 40, The Rock, and Cody Rhodes
Roman Reigns recently spoke candidly in an interview on the Sports Illustrated Media podcast about the main event scene at WrestleMania 40, particularly the shifting focus between facing The Rock or Cody Rhodes.
When asked by Jimmy Traina if he was disappointed to face Rhodes instead of The Rock, Reigns expressed that it didn’t matter to him who his opponent was — his priority was competing in the main event and defending his championship:
"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 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."
Initially, after Cody Rhodes won the 2024 men’s Royal Rumble, he declared he would not challenge Reigns at WrestleMania 40. This opened the door for The Rock — Reigns’ cousin and WWE legend — to potentially headline instead. However, fan backlash prompted Rhodes to change course, which led to The Rock turning heel as “The Final Boss” and aligning with Reigns. The team-up resulted in The Rock and Reigns defeating Rhodes and Seth Rollins on Night 1 of WrestleMania 40, with Rhodes capturing the WWE Championship from Reigns on Night 2. While the much-anticipated Reigns vs. The Rock match did not take place, Reigns believes it is still on the table if the fans demand it:
"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 fans with an unannounced return at WWE’s Bad Blood last month, but has not made further appearances since. With upcoming events like the WarGames match at Survivor Series, there is speculation that The Rock could re-emerge and possibly set the stage for an epic confrontation with Reigns.
Tommy Fury Teases WWE Ambitions
Professional boxer Tommy Fury has hinted at the possibility of pursuing a future in WWE. In a recent YouTube video posted after attending a WWE event during the company’s UK tour, Fury showcased backstage interactions with stars including Randy Orton, Cody Rhodes, and Gunther.
Fury commented on the experience and his openness to wrestling:
"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 Fury is the younger brother of former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, who had a one-off WWE match in 2019. Tommy has carved his own path with an undefeated 10-0 boxing record and notably defeated YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Given Tommy’s connections to the Paul family and WWE’s ongoing relationship with Logan Paul, a rivalry or alliance involving the Fury and Paul brothers could attract mainstream attention. WWE is likely to keep the door open for Tommy Fury for potential future involvement.
Oba Femi’s NXT Absence Sparks Speculation
Oba Femi, former NXT North American Champion, has been conspicuously absent from WWE’s NXT tapings since late October following his loss at Halloween Havoc.
Fightful Select reports that Femi has not been seen backstage since dropping the North American Championship to Tony D’Angelo and losing their rematch. The reasons for his absence remain unclear; possibilities include a need to regroup after two high-profile losses, preparation for a main roster call-up, or managing an injury.
Femi debuted on NXT television in April 2023 and quickly rose as a dominant force, winning the NXT Breakout Tournament and establishing a record-setting 272-day reign as North American Champion. With a strong comeback potential, many see Femi as a prime candidate to challenge for the NXT Championship in future storylines.
Stay tuned to Bleacher Report for continued WWE news and analysis as the wrestling world heads toward major events like Survivor Series and beyond.
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