Oba Femi, a former Alabama Crimson Tide track star turned professional wrestler, made history on Saturday by becoming the first ever number one entrant from the state at WWE’s Royal Rumble event. The annual premium live event, held this year in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, saw Roman Reigns secure his second Royal Rumble victory by outlasting 29 other competitors.
Femi’s Powerful Debut Amidst WWE’s Elite Competitors
Before Reigns’ triumph, Femi, known as “The Ruler,” made a strong impression as WWE’s emerging powerhouse, confronting Brock Lesnar—an accomplished former UFC heavyweight champion and one of the toughest wrestlers ever. The Royal Rumble, traditionally staged each January, features a timed-entry battle royal format where 30 wrestlers try to eliminate each other by tossing opponents over the top rope with both feet touching the floor.
Entrants join the ring one by one according to their drawn number. Starting with numbers one and two, the match continues with additional competitors arriving at regular intervals. Drawing the coveted number one spot, Femi stood alongside distinguished company, as only a rare few have won the event from that position, including Rhea Ripley, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and Shawn Michaels.
Femi Joins a Legendary List of Royal Rumble First Entrants
At 27 years old, Femi entered an elite group of wrestling legends who have begun the Royal Rumble in the number one position. His arrival was marked by his distinctive entrance music and trademark ring walk, setting an intense atmosphere before the bout began. Bron Breakker entered second but was immediately attacked outside the ring by a masked assailant, allowing Femi to eliminate him quickly upon Breakker’s in-ring arrival. Solo Sikoa entered third, but he also became one of Femi’s early eliminations.
Dominant Performance Lasting Over 39 Minutes
Femi’s performance stood out as he lasted more than 39 minutes, second only to Je’Von Evans who survived nearly 41. During the battle, Femi eliminated five wrestlers: Bron Breakker, Solo Sikoa, Rey Mysterio, Rusev, and Matt Cardona. His prolonged resilience solidified his reputation as WWE’s next monstrous talent.
The climax came when WWE legend and former UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar entered the ring at number 22. After a memorable stare-down, Femi struck Lesnar with a clothesline but was momentarily distracted by Logan Paul. Turning his back to attempt a crucial elimination of the YouTube star turned WWE competitor, Femi was swiftly caught off guard and thrown over the top rope by Lesnar, ending his bid to win the Rumble.
Oba Femi put the entire WWE on NOTICE,
the WWE’s Netflix Instagram account declared after his showing.
From Nigerian Track Champion to WWE Contender
Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 310 pounds, Femi might appear to have a football background, but he was actually a champion in track and field. Born Isaac Odugbesan in Nigeria, he competed on Middle Tennessee State’s track team before transferring to Alabama. There, he secured the 2021 SEC indoor and outdoor shot put titles and successfully defended the indoor championship the following year.
Though never a football player, Femi fondly recalls attending a Crimson Tide football game, calling it one of his most special memories during his time at Alabama.
The one (football) game is Alabama vs. LSU in 2019,
he shared with AL.com’s Mark Heim.
We actually lost, but that was the very first Alabama game I ever went to, so it has a very special place in my heart.
Potential Football Career Nearly a Reality
On the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Femi spoke about whether former Alabama football coach Nick Saban ever considered recruiting him to football. He revealed that although Saban and strength coaches noticed his exceptional strength, concerns about his lack of prior football experience and NCAA rules prevented an offer.
Not personally, but he definitely had his eye on me for sure,
Femi stated, according to Fightful.com.
Him and all the strength coaches, especially when we got to the end of the year and we started doing tests to find out our maxes and I’m throwing 700 pounds on the squat and all that so one go-around, we have this freaking animal here. It came down to an issue where because I hadn’t played before, I’m from Nigeria, we don’t play football. So, you can’t give a full ride to someone who’s never played in a top tier school like Alabama, let’s just put it that way.
Longest Reigning NXT North American Champion Before Main Roster Transition
Before stepping up to WWE’s main roster, Femi held the NXT North American Championship for a record 273 days, the longest reign for that title. His predecessors included notable wrestlers such as Adam Cole, Ricochet, Keith Lee, Solo Sikoa, and Dominik Mysterio.
Femi debuted on WWE’s main roster on December 13, 2025, during an episode of Saturday Night’s Main Event, where he faced the Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. That match concluded in a no-contest after interference from Drew McIntyre.
Femi’s Rising Role in WWE’s Future Programming
WWE’s confidence in Femi is evident, as they entrusted him to kick off the Royal Rumble on such a major stage. Fans can anticipate seeing him regularly on weekly shows like Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown, which stream on Netflix and air on USA Network, respectively. With his size, skill, and rising momentum, Femi is poised to become a significant force in professional wrestling.
