Oba Femi, a rising talent on WWE’s main roster and former NXT World Champion, recently took part in an extensive interview on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast with hosts O’Shea Jackson and TJ Jefferson. During the conversation, Femi recalled his surprising participation in the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble held in Saudi Arabia, expressing initial doubts about the local crowd’s recognition of him.
He explained,
“The Rumble debut was more of a pleasant surprise. I didn’t think the Saudi crowd would be hip to [my] stuff, so shoutout to the Saudi crowd. I slept on them. I’m there, I’m not doing anything. There’s no planned meet and greets for me because I was supposed to be a surprise. The one time I ended up leaving the hotel, those people who saw me and recognized me and they did the chant. I was like, ‘Oh, okay, maybe I’ll be okay come Rumble night.’ Very pleasant surprise. Saudi, I apologize, you guys know what’s going on.”
– Oba Femi, Former NXT World Champion
Moment with Brock Lesnar Hints at Future WWE Storylines
Femi also discussed a brief but significant interaction with Brock Lesnar during the Royal Rumble. He described the strategic nature of their face-off, emphasizing how careful they were to avoid spoiling potential developments while reading the crowd’s reaction.
He stated,
“There so much nuance to that moment because there’s one thing to have buzz online, but a lot of times, buzz online doesn’t necessarily translate to what the casual crowd or the live crowd wants. At the beginning stages of the face off, me and Brock know that based on our reaction, we both have the understanding that there might be something here. They’re getting louder, they’re getting louder, it’s rumbling, we have something. In that moment, you have that mental agreement like yes, we know we have something so let’s not give away too much right now. I’m glad it got the reaction, I’m glad the IWC desires actually translates to the live crowd and what’s the casual fans want to see. That’s an amazing realization. We have something there, it’s a big money fight. We’re not going to blow our load on just a Rumble interaction, there’s so much more than can happen there. We’ll see down the line.”
– Oba Femi, Former NXT World Champion
Experience of Working John Cena’s Retirement Match
Femi highlighted his experience working on WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event, the show that featured John Cena’s final match before retirement. He conveyed the honor and symbolism he felt performing during such a milestone event in WWE history.
He remarked,
“It was a feeling of privilege for sure because that is another short list, the number of people who got to perform at John Cena’s retirement match. It’s very symbolic that John’s end is my beginning and that fact I kind of enjoy. I really wanted to work with John, I was really hoping and praying like, don’t go too fast. I was really hoping to you know work with him, especially when a lot of people were putting fire under the idea of me being the one to retire him and stuff like that. I had already rubbed minds with John in the past, he had given me advice and he had seen me wrestle before. He knew who I was and what I was all about. He had good things to say about me, whatever he felt like was a correction or something I could do better, he always told me. I’m glad that before that day came, I was at least able to have some sort of relationship with John.”
– Oba Femi, Former NXT World Champion
Revealing a Private Moment: John Cena’s Backstage Toast
One of the most intimate details shared by Femi was a rarely known moment following John Cena’s retirement match. Cena returned backstage and gathered the locker room roster for a final toast, demonstrating the humility and camaraderie he maintained despite his high profile both in WWE and Hollywood.
Femi recalled,
“A lot of people don’t know this, but after the show, John came back to the locker room with all the boys and he shared one last toast and took shots with us. I’m glad that I got to be a part of that, it really showed how humble he was. No matter how big he got in WWE or Hollywood, he was at his core still one of the boys. Respect to John.”
– Oba Femi, Former NXT World Champion
Significance of Cena’s Transition and Future Prospects
The episode underscored the passing of the torch from John Cena, an iconic figure in sports entertainment, to emerging talents like Oba Femi. Cena’s retirement marks a pivotal moment in WWE’s landscape as younger wrestlers step into larger roles. Femi’s reflections on his interaction with Cena and notable moments backstage give fans insight into the locker room culture and respect Cena commands.
Looking ahead, the chemistry hinted at between Femi and Brock Lesnar at the Royal Rumble alludes to future storylines that could captivate WWE audiences. Additionally, Femi’s rising profile following such key experiences signals potential growth within the company’s main roster.
John Cena’s backstage toast symbolizes not only his humility but also the supportive environment he leaves behind. This gesture may inspire the next generation of stars to carry forward the legacy of professionalism and camaraderie in WWE.
