Oba Femi is WWE’s next big star. Over the past couple of years, talents like Trick Williams, Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, and Je’Von Evans have been called up from NXT to the main roster.
If there’s one NXT talent to fast-track to the main event, it’s Femi. ‘The Ruler’ held the NXT championship for a record-breaking 272 days. He also held the NXT North American championship and won the Iron Survivor Challenge. Now, he faces his biggest challenge: Brock Lesnar.
Femi attacked Lesnar this past Monday on Raw, accepting the Beast Incarnate’s open challenge for WrestleMania 42.
Rumors have spread on the internet that Lesnar doesn’t want to lose another match until he retires from professional wrestling. As with most things in the internet wrestling community, take that with a grain of salt.
Lesnar is 48 years old and nearing the end of his career. He spent two years away from WWE before returning at Summer Slam 2025. In that span of time, one thing was clear: the WWE no longer needed him.
Having Lesnar on TV feels like a spectacle, and it’s always a huge moment when that theme song hits. John Cena, AJ Styles, and Bryan Danielson have all stepped away from the ring, making way for a new generation.
If Lesnar’s next loss truly is his last match, it should be at “The Grandest Stage of Them All”. He eliminated Femi from the 2026 Royal Rumble, giving the former NXT Champion a perfect reason for wanting this match.
If the WWE is looking for a replacement for Lesnar, they’ve already found it. Femi is a 27-year-old monster who can put on terrific matches with any opponent. He’s 6’6” and 310 pounds, and ragdolls opponents in a way that’s only comparable to the man who ended the Undertaker’s WrestleMania streak.
Femi has already defeated Rusev, The Miz, and Johnny Gargano on the main roster. He also tied Roman Reigns for the most eliminations in the Royal Rumble, a match the Tribal Chief ultimately won.
Not only is Femi a strong presence in the ring, but he also already has the mic skills of a veteran. He’s believable when he speaks. His entrance and signature walk to the ring have already become crowd favorites as well.
If there’s a checklist on what makes a future WWE World champion, Femi already checks off every box. The last thing, and probably the most important in pro-wrestling, is aura. The Undertaker, Roman Reigns, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Cena, and Lesnar all carry an aura with them wherever they go. The Ruler has more of that than almost any 27-year-old in the entire business.
It’s highly unlikely that either Femi or Lesnar will get a one-sided victory at WrestleMania, and that’s perfect. This is the moment when Femi can be launched to the top of the company.
Lesnar shouldn’t go down easy. In fact, he should drop Femi with an F-5, only for ‘The Ruler’ to kick out. Paul Heyman at ringside will sell that moment better than anybody.
Femi hitting a Fall From Grace and pinning Lesnar at WrestleMania will tear the roof off Allegiant Stadium. It’ll be the exact moment a star was made, and a moment fans will look back on for years.
Lesnar’s retirement won’t be one full of fanfare; he might not even confirm it’s happened. He’ll likely just disappear from TV and let Femi imply that he’s the one who ended the former 10-time World Champion.
There’s no guarantee that Lesnar is hanging up the gloves anytime soon. He’s still an attraction, and one that can still go in the ring. It’s more likely he disappears until Summer Slam comes around, regardless of the WrestleMania outcome.
A common question with pro-wrestling retirements is “Who will be the final opponent?” Gunther was Cena and Styles’ final opponent, the latter of whom was the same for the Undertaker. The final match is one that’s spoken about forever. Lesnar has the opportunity to pass the torch to a new beast at WrestleMania.
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