69制片厂制作传媒播

The night he won the gold from Trick Williams in a triple threat with Eddy Thorpe also saw an appearance from . He lent his star power after opening WWE69制片厂制作传媒檚 big on premiere. His daughter known in NXT as Ava, the show69制片厂制作传媒檚 onscreen general manager, accompanied him to the .听

Days after winning the title, we caught up with Femi to reflect on the victory and his meteoric rise.

What did that night mean to you?听

Oba Femi: Everyone is looking for their moment. It almost passed me by. I almost didn69制片厂制作传媒檛 realize this is it and that moment. Sometimes we69制片厂制作传媒檙e so driven to get to the next goal and do the next objective we don69制片厂制作传媒檛 stop to smell the roses. I feel like the confetti falling was the realization that this was my moment. That I have to soak it all in. The obligations continue after that. Now I69制片厂制作传媒檓 the one who has to carry the brand. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 going to give it everything I have. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 going to give the best matches, make every appearance. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 the new Mr. Hustle, Loyalty, Respect. That69制片厂制作传媒檚 the standard. I want to be that for this brand of NXT.听

How was it getting that validation from ?听

He told me congratulations and was proud of what we did. I will always say we because the show comes together with not just one person. It69制片厂制作传媒檚 not just Oba Femi. He said he liked the match, which is a great compliment from someone who many call the greatest of all-time. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 happy about sharing those moments with Shawn.听

What did you do to celebrate?听

I celebrated the next day. I got a couple of drinks and was happy. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 not one of those people who needs to go out and party and lose their minds. A little celebration is all I need. I try my best to be as strict as possible with what I eat and do. So even going out and eating a little cake and having a couple of drinks is enough celebration to me.听

It was also on this night that The Rock made his first-ever appearance on NXT. Were able to share any time together? How was it having him there?听

Everyone knows who Rock is. I watched the Rock growing up. He is definitely a great entertainer and professional wrestler. He did tell me congratulations. We crossed paths. There was unfortunately not enough time for us to have a full chat and for him to give me some nuggets. Hopefully, this wasn69制片厂制作传媒檛 the last time he makes an appearance on NXT. I know for sure it won69制片厂制作传媒檛 be the last time I come across him. The next time we do I know we69制片厂制作传媒檒l have more of a conversation.听

When was the moment you felt you were really connecting to the audience?听

This is how good the officials at the PC (Performance Center) are, Shawn, [Johnny] Russo (head writer) and (head trainer and vice president of talent development) Matt Bloom. Before you get to TV, you have your coconut matches (live event), the Level Up and all that stuff. The reactions I would get, they started to pick up on it. I didn69制片厂制作传媒檛 realize the reception I was getting at the time, but they did. They saw something there. They had spotted the reaction and connection of me and the crowd since November 2022. That69制片厂制作传媒檚 how long ago they saw it. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 happy it was enough for them to run with me as the guy and give me the ball as they say. I69制片厂制作传媒檓 happy, lucky and privileged to be that guy.听

You won the NXT Championship during what would be NXT69制片厂制作传媒檚 highest-rated episode in five years. Do you feel added pressure building on this momentum? You69制片厂制作传媒檙e now one of these locker room leaders.听

I69制片厂制作传媒檓 definitely one of the leaders in the locker room. There are also guys who have been in this locker room way longer than I have. So, they69制片厂制作传媒檝e earned their stripes and position. All I know is those guys who have paid their dues for so many years and wrestled for so many years and may not be in the position they wish to be in, the least I can do knowing I69制片厂制作传媒檓 the guy in the position is do my job well. The least I owe the boys in the back is to have good matches and carry the brand the best I can.听

The pressure definitely goes up. Am I feeling the pressure? No. I feel if I give it my all, I think we69制片厂制作传媒檒l deliver on every mission we69制片厂制作传媒檝e set for us in 2025. It69制片厂制作传媒檚 about doing what got you to the dance. A lot of times people try to change the formula or switch it up, you can69制片厂制作传媒檛 do that. You have to come to dance and lead with the people who brought you to the dance. If I do what I did in 2024 leveling up I think we69制片厂制作传媒檒l deliver in 2025.听

What69制片厂制作传媒檚 the best piece of advice you69制片厂制作传媒檝e been given so far?听

I69制片厂制作传媒檝e had so many nuggets of advice the past two-and-a-half years. Sometimes it69制片厂制作传媒檚 weird things people say that will make it click in your head. People can say for you to look at the hard camera, and do all these cues. You don69制片厂制作传媒檛 really get it until someone says, 69制片厂制作传媒淵ou know what? Own your own space.69制片厂制作传媒� Then it clicks.

Sometimes there isn69制片厂制作传媒檛 a nugget of wisdom I can tell you someone told me that will universally work for everyone. There is no such thing. I think it comes down to the constant people telling me things that click. Be big, be you, own your own space. Tell them who you are. That was a big one for me. Every time I69制片厂制作传媒檓 on screen, let them know who you are. There are easy ways to do that by saying your name in every promo. That69制片厂制作传媒檚 why people refer to themselves in the third person. The Rock says69制片厂制作传媒eople do that, but it doesn69制片厂制作传媒檛 have to be that. It69制片厂制作传媒檚 just the little things you do. The way you sell something.听

Is there anyone who has been a regular training partner?听

I really like working with . Ivar teaches the big man classes at the PC. He comes in, rolls around with us, watches our matches with us. We helped him get ready for his big return to WWE Raw on Monday nights. Congrats to him becoming a tag champ. He is a big one who has been helpful the past two years.听

Is there one thing that people will be surprised to know about you?听

I feel it69制片厂制作传媒檚 more who I am. Under all of this, I69制片厂制作传媒檓 just a guy. I do like being a dude, going out to 69制片厂制作传媒 Depot or Walmart. I just go places and do regular things. I think that is what takes people aback the most. Sometimes someone will see me at the mall and say, 69制片厂制作传媒淗ey Oba! Nice to meet you, I didn69制片厂制作传媒檛 think I would see you here.69制片厂制作传媒� I ask them why they didn69制片厂制作传媒檛 think they would see me at the mall. I need clothes too. People have definitely started to recognize me more now. People started to take notice.听

You mentioned Hustle, Loyalty, Respect. The mantra of , who has begun his retirement tour. You69制片厂制作传媒檙e the NXT champion. What are your thoughts on having a match with him?听

That would be something on my bucket list because John Cena is one of those guys I69制片厂制作传媒檝e always wanted to wrestle. Now that I know it69制片厂制作传媒檚 his farewell tour, there is no time like the present. I69制片厂制作传媒檇 love to do it. If it69制片厂制作传媒檚 not in the cards though, I also understand. I have a brand to carry and represent. That69制片厂制作传媒檚 my number one objective anyway.听

When it comes to backstage segments, one of your onscreen partners has been Ava. How is it working off her as she is growing her career as well?听

Ava is doing a fantastic job as general manager of NXT. The mayor as I say,. Everyone knows her more as the manager on TV, but I get to know Ava as a person. That is also really nice. She is cool.听

The next big event for NXT is Vengeance Day on February 15. Anyone you want to defend against?听

Vengeance Day, I think Trick Williams would be the most logical way to go in terms of contenders. At the same time, I don69制片厂制作传媒檛 think personally he deserves it. He made a triple threat match. If he wants to be angry at Eddy69制片厂制作传媒檚 involvement in the match, that69制片厂制作传媒檚 cool. It69制片厂制作传媒檚 his problem. I think we should have a regular number one contender听 match, four-way match or tournament. Whoever wins, wrestles the ruler on Vengeance Day.听

Before that, we have the . Thoughts on entering the field?听

If it69制片厂制作传媒檚 in the cards, it69制片厂制作传媒檚 in the cards. If it69制片厂制作传媒檚 not, it69制片厂制作传媒檚 not. As I said, I69制片厂制作传媒檓 the NXT Champion. Here I am. Let69制片厂制作传媒檚 make NXT great.听

WWE NXT, Tuesdays, 8/7c, The CW听

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