During the upcoming edition of Saturday Night’s Main Event, Oba Femi will make his long-awaited main roster debut in an exhibition match against Cody Rhodes.
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say the 27-year-old is the most anticipated NXT call-up since Bron Breakker. Similarly, Femi has been earmarked as the next big thing and the most highly touted success story from WWE’s NIL program.
In an era when the jump to the main roster comes with reservations due to diminishing returns, the Nigerian newcomer has captured the imaginations of even the most skeptical viewers. More to the point, the company’s most recent attempts to revitalize the pipeline to Raw and SmackDown have been successful, and Femi already seems like a slam dunk.
So much so that many hoped to see him compete in John Cena’s Last Time Is Now Tournament for the chance to retire the legendary Superstar. That certainly would’ve left a lasting first impression on new fans.
However, his second NXT title win at Deadline may offer him an even better opportunity as he steps in the ring with the reigning Undisputed WWE champion. It’s a big-time matchup for a star-studded affair, but all eyes will be on The Ruler because this will likely be a glimpse at a future main eventer.
When Femi returned to confront Ricky Saints at NXT Gold Rush, he proclaimed, “Now I am here…I am the one who will cast a shadow. I am the one who will take it all away. I am the one who will destroy you.”
It was a chilling and emphatic promo that brought the crowd at The Theater at Madison Square Garden to their feet. More importantly, it was the latest indication that he’s ready for the big stage.
Given Saints’ history with Rhodes, it was easy to assume he would retain his title and go on to face one of his mentors at Saturday Night’s Main Event. Nevertheless, it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that WWE would prioritize a match with such a promising homegrown talent instead.
The longest-reigning NXT North American champion has achieved just about everything there is to do on the development brand. It’s time to prepare him for the next step and introduce him to a larger audience.
As an accomplished track and field athlete, Femi signed with WWE in 2021 and began training at the Performance Center after he graduated from the University of Alabama. He has since become the first NIL recruit to win the NXT Championship.
His latest win at Deadline puts him in a select group of Superstars like Samoa Joe, Shinsuke Nakamura, and Finn Balor, who have held the title twice.
Afterward, he offered a warning, “Change always wins. When change met the dinosaurs, he sent the meteor. When change met man in the Old Testament, he sent the flood. And when change comes to the main roster, asking for Cody Rhodes, he will send The Ruler.”
It isn’t hard to see why WWE has such a vested interest in Femi or why fans are excited about his arrival on the main roster. He’s a dynamic and refreshing departure from the company’s prototypical top stars.
As Cena bids farewell to the wrestling business, the two-time NXT champion is precisely who the current regime should propel to the forefront. Femi is the next step in the evolution of the super heavyweight, with a commanding speaking voice befitting his moniker.
When he speaks, we take heed. When he enters the squared circle, we marvel at his feats of strength and athleticism. He is a future star who could already believably stand toe-to-toe with the current crop of Superstars.
The sun may be setting on Cena’s illustrious career, but Femi’s time is now. He has a chance to make a monumental debut similar to Kevin Owens’ upset win at Elimination Chamber in 2015.
Owens famously took on Cena in a Champion vs. Champion match at the event, and the win cemented him as a star with a bright future. As we know, The Prizefighter went on to headline WrestleMania twice.
Whether he wins or loses, this is a potential star-making moment for a can’t-miss talent unique to WWE’s programming. We can’t wait to see how he performs under the bright lights, but it’s clear that the sky’s the limit for Femi. It’s not too late to get on the bandwagon.
