The Ruler finally got his crown at WWE Night of Champions 2026. Oba Femi defeated Jey Uso to win the King of the Ring Tournament and book a date with one of the two World Champions at SummerSlam 2026. Unfortunately, Femi will not be receiving his title shot at the Biggest Party of the Summer.
Instead, the former NXT Champion will settle his score with Brock Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell at SummerSlam. Meanwhile, Roman Reigns will defend the World Heavyweight Championship against Seth “Freakin” Rollins. Initially, fans were hoping that Femi would pull off double duty at the Biggest Party of the Summer, but that seems unlikely now.
Nevertheless, holding off on Femi’s World Title match is a calculated decision that could bear fruit in the later months. On that note, let’s look at 3 reasons why Oba Femi not challenging for the World Title at SummerSlam is a good idea.
#3. Oba Femi Has Unfinished Business with Brock Lesnar
We start this list with the most obvious reason. Oba Femi and Brock Lesnar have been at war for much of 2026. Both men are tied at one win apiece, and neither monster can rest until the other has been extinguished. The Beast Incarnate returned on RAW to ruin Femi’s celebration, landing an F5.
The Ruler, fed up with Lesnar’s cowardly tactics, issued a challenge. The Conqueror upped the ante by suggesting Hell in a Cell as the stipulation. Adam Pearce made the match official, and we will now get Lesnar vs. Femi III inside the Devil’s Playground at SummerSlam 2026.
Truth be told, this was the best option for Femi. The Bringer of War needs to shut Lesnar down for good. Until Lesnar is in the rearview mirror, the Beast’s enormous shadow will always cast a dark cloud over Femi. Furthermore, let’s not discount the impact a clean statement victory over Lesnar inside Hell in a Cell could have on Femi’s prospects.
Although he is at the tail end of his career, Brock Lesnar is still considered the measuring stick today. Ending the rivalry with Lesnar convincingly inside the cell gives Oba Femi the credibility no championship alone could provide.
#2. SummerSlam is Too Soon for the Ruler’s First World Title Win
Many WWE fans wanted Oba Femi to win his first World Championship at SummerSlam. However, the consensus is that it is still too soon to crown Femi. We have seen faster rises to the top of the mountain. Prolific names like Brock Lesnar and Charlotte Flair come to mind.
Nonetheless, Triple H should be cautious with the Ruler. The former NXT Champion is one of the most over stars in WWE today, and pushing him to the moon is a risky move. Mega pushes have backfired in the past. Roman Reigns’ initial push in 2015 was heavily criticized, and Jey Uso’s World Heavyweight Championship pursuit last year proved controversial.
It took Cody Rhodes two years to finish his story. When he finally did, it was an epic moment. WWE should spend some time building a compelling narrative for Femi so that his eventual World Championship win feels more important.
#1. The World Title Picture is Already Too Crowded
SummerSlam already has quite a few massive World Championship matches brewing in the background. Roman Reigns vs. Seth “Freakin” Rollins has already been announced, but we can expect their story to unravel and dominate RAW for the next few weeks.
On SmackDown, Sami Zayn recently did the unthinkable and won the WWE Championship. Zayn will likely be involved in some angle with the former champion, Cody Rhodes. Characters like The Usos and Solo Sikoa could also play an overarching role in this narrative.
Hence, with several stories already unfolding, it doesn’t give Femi’s narrative the space to breathe. Throwing Oba Femi into that mix risks overshadowing either him or the reigning champion. By postponing his title opportunity, he can challenge whenever the timing is perfect.
