If Oba Femi Retains
According to Bill Apter and WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry, Oba Femi could be the next Brock Lesnar. Even if Femi refuses comparisons, this one came at a moment when Lesnar is said to be retiring this year, possibly in his hometown. For sure, like Lesnar, Femi is a phenom. His incredible raw athleticism has made him the Ruler of NXT for the last two years.
With a record 272 days as NXT North American Champion, an Iron Survivor Challenge Winner, and already a 2-time NXT Champion, The Ruler has already established himself as one of the preeminent forces in the industry (even if he thinks the opposite). There is no telling the heights that he can reach in WWE. That may be the reason why, even if he retains at New Year’s Evil, his time on NXT is clearly coming to an end.
This is going to be GOOD. 😮💨
Oba Femi vs. Leon Slater for the NXT Championship at New Year's Evil!!!@Obaofwwe @LEONSLATER_ pic.twitter.com/eVPOw4BAwf
— WWE (@WWE) December 17, 2025
Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes opened the door for the NXT Championship to shine in his main roster debut match at Saturday Night’s Main Event XLII. WWE officials were “unbelievably impressed” by Femi’s recent outings on the main roster. So impressed, in fact, that the company has now aired vignettes for him on both SmackDown and RAW, an indication that his full-time call-up is just around the corner.
Officials also view Femi on the same level as Bron Breakker, which is a huge comparison. Bron Breakker is currently being groomed as one of WWE’s next major stars. If Femi is seen in the same light, his long-term ceiling is incredibly high. While WWE hasn’t announced when or where he’ll land, the momentum is clear: Oba Femi is coming, as long as we give him some time to leave NXT the same way he honored it.
ANOTHER OBA FEMI VIGNETTE!#WWERAW
— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) December 30, 2025
