WWE eyes Oba Femi‑Roman Reigns WrestleMania 43 showdown after SummerSlam title shot relinquished

WWE King of the Ring winner Oba Femi gave up his guaranteed World Title opportunity at SummerSlam, which would have pitted him against Roman Reigns. According to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the decision was part of a long‑term plan to build Femi for a future main‑event clash with Reigns at WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia, allowing more buildup and a larger “chase” than a SummerSlam match could provide.

Instead, Femi chose to settle his rivalry with Brock Lesnar in a rubber‑match Hell in a Cell bout, a feud the newsletter describes as WWE’s hottest program at the moment. Meltzer speculated the match could end with Femi’s victory, though outcomes in today’s WWE storylines are often secondary to narrative momentum. The Lesnar‑Femi feud also ties to Lesnar’s planned final WWE match in Minnesota, following his recent win at Clash in Italy.

The storyline also positions Roman Reigns for a separate SummerSlam defense against Seth Rollins, further clearing the path for a potential Reigns‑Femi showdown at WrestleMania 43, which WWE views as a marquee moment for the company’s next era.