Oba Femi is now officially the longest-reigning NXT North American Champion in WWE history. Having surpassed Wes Lee‘s 269-day reign, Femi is now in the history books of that title and in the entire NXT.
Femi made his debut official NXT debut in April 2023 and, since then, he has had some memorable moments. Below are the top five unforgettable Oba Femi moments in WWE NXT history.
HISTORY.
Oba Femi is now the longest reigning #WWENXT North American Champion ever! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/zR7X0o4z3A
— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) October 6, 2024
1. Oba Femi Becomes NXT North American Champion
Femi became the 22nd NXT North American Champion on January 9, 2024, by defeating Dragon Lee. This was Femi’s NXT Breakout Tournament contract cash-in match, and he stole the show.
This came just one week after he won the 2023 tournament by defeating Riley Osborne at New Year’s Evil. To be fair, Lee had just successfully defended the title but that did not dampen Femi’s vicious attack.
At the time, Femi was still fairly new but, with this display of dominance, he immediately put the entire men’s division on notice. Considering that Femi has only continued to get better and stronger, this was a truly special moment.
This was a bold and brash move but it paid off for him big time. This was the beginning of his reign but, beyond that, this was also the beginning of the Oba Femi era in NXT.
2. Oba Femi Backed By Destiny
Just moments after his NXT Breakout Tournament contract on January 2 at New Year’s Evil, Femi had a backstage interview. In this interview, Femi spoke of being back in Nigeria and consulting with a fortune teller, and she saw quite a bright future for him.
“She sees me conquering industries in the future. She sees me bringing down industries in the future. She sees me winning contracts in the future. She sees me winning gold in the future.”
When asked how he plans to continue his dominance in NXT, Femi simply replied, “I am backed by destiny. That means, no man breathing can stop me.” Considering that all that was prophesied has come to be true, this is a goosebump-inducing promo.
If one did not know who Oba Femi was, this was definitely the moment he let the world know.
3. Oba Femi Defends Gold Against Wes Lee at NXT Heatwave
Femi’s NXT North American Championship defense against Wes Lee at NXT Heatwave was one of his more recent. The two competed for just over 16 minutes, and this was quite a defining moment in Femi’s reign.
Lee is the former champion and, having held the title for 269 days, had the longest reign in the title’s history (at the time). Femi’s defending against such a dominant champion would be an important footnote in his legacy as the NXT North American Champion.
This was quite the showcase match, and it got an 8.09 rating on CageMatch – Femi’s highest singles match rating on the platform. Having vanquished Lee, Femi had conquered one of the most formidable threats to his reign, and he managed to close that chapter definitively.
4. Triple-Threat Action at NXT Stand & Deliver
NXT Stand & Deliver is the biggest event in the brand’s yearly calendar. Femi walked into that event as the reigning NXT North American Champion, and he defended it in a triple-threat match.
His opponents were Dijak and Josh Briggs, and they put on one of the best matches of the entire WrestleMania 40 weekend. The match ran 15 minutes and, having a 4.5-star rating from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, this is undoubtedly the best match from the event.
Femi has never been one to back down from a challenge, and it was quite a chess move to take on two adversaries at once. This match sent a loud and clear message to all those who might dare to challenge Femi, and it just further proved his dominance.
5. Defeats Ivar at Spring Breakin’ 2024
Femi made his formal NXT debut at Spring Breakin’ 2023 before reappearing for the 2023 Men’s NXT Breakout Tournament. It’s only right that Femi would feature on the Spring Breakin’ 2024 special, and he had quite the match.
Femi defended the NXT North American Championship against Raw wrestler, Ivar. This was a battle of two big men, and it was quite the spectacle.
The fact that, in just a year, Femi was already holding a top championship was amazing to witness. This match was a celebration of Femi and all that he has done.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – WWE – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network and Peacock.
