The speculated bout between Brock Lesnar and rising star Oba Femi is currently not a guaranteed fixture for the WrestleMania 42 card in Las Vegas. During the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble match in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the two powerhouses shared an in-ring interaction that many assumed served as the formal start of a WrestleMania program.
After entering the match at #1 and putting on a dominant 39-minute performance, Femi was ultimately dispatched by Lesnar, who hit the former NXT Champion with a German suplex before tossing him over the top rope. Despite the clear storytelling during the Rumble, Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that the match is far from a certainty.
While the interaction seemed to point toward a collision at Allegiant Stadium, internal discussions may be moving in a different direction for the one-time UFC heavyweight champ. “That’s not 100 percent, by the way… it could happen. I’m not saying it’s not happening. I’m just saying that I was told this one’s not 100 percent, and that was the Lesnar and Oba Femi match,” Meltzer stated.
Femi’s performance in the Royal Rumble has reportedly left WWE officials “unbelievably impressed” with his potential as a top-tier main event player. Entering at #1 and lasting nearly 40 minutes, Femi tied the winner, Roman Reigns, for the most eliminations in the match with five.
This standout showing comes on the heels of Femi vacating the NXT Championship following his victory over Leon Slater at NXT New Year’s Evil, signaling his permanent move to the main roster, where he is viewed on a similar trajectory to Bron Breakker.
While the Femi-Lesnar bout remains in question, WWE has already confirmed a major main event for the April 18–19 event. Roman Reigns, having secured his third Royal Rumble victory by eliminating Gunther last, has exercised his right to challenge CM Punk for the World Heavyweight Championship. This sets up a clash between two of the company’s biggest stars.
