17-Time WWE Champion Reveals Reason For Rejecting Oba Femi Match
This WWE star refused to battle Oba Femi in his open challenge and has now stated his reason.
Oba Femi has been nothing short of dominant since his debut at January’s Royal Rumble match in the eponymous PLE. Femi debuted on the main roster after relinquishing his NXT Championship.
His initial face-off with Brock Lesnar at the Rumble made fans speculate a match between the pair, which eventually took place at WrestleMania 42 after Femi answered Lesnar’s open challenge. The match itself was a short one, and Femi landed his heavy offense on Lesnar and pinned him after a Fall From Grace.
Lesnar then left his gloves and boots in the ring, signaling retirement, and that has earned Femi a new nickname, “The Beast Slayer”.
The Ruler has since announced his Oba Femi open challenge, which he did after making light work of Grayson Waller, who was complaining about a lack of opportunities in the company.
The first to accept Femi’s challenge was Akira Tozawa of Alpha Academy, but when the 40-year-old cruiserweight stood face to face with the Ruler, he decided it would be best to back off. His tag team partner, the 330-pounder Otis, took the challenge and tried his luck, but it was in vain as Femi dominated and defeated him.
Tozawa, who is a 16-time WWE 24/7Champion and a one-time Cruiserweight Champion, took to X to share his thoughts on why he backed off.
Anyone would react the same standing in front of Oba.
Anyone would react the same standing in front of Oba. pic.twitter.com/ji7dJH3WpC
— Akira Tozawa (@TozawaAkira) May 5, 2026
WWE Legend Mark Henry Has Some Advice For Oba Femi
Oba Femi is a major star in the making, but relatively young and early in his rise.
WWE veteran Mark Henry had some sound advice for the Ruler when he spoke to the Toronto Sun for an interview. He says that Femi will have to learn how to say “no” to certain things in order to keep his character’s integrity intact.
It’s learning to say no. There’s some things that are not going to be good for you going forward and it’s tough to say no, but you have be able to say, ‘We worked too hard to get to this point, I think that would take us backwards.
Is there another way we could do it because that just doesn’t work for me.’ You’re not being difficult, you’re not being a butth*le, you’re being cautious and careful about your development and where you’re going. That’s just my advice to Oba and well as my advice to the company. Do the right thing and be flexible.
Don’t be so rigid when an idea is struck and you just don’t feel it. If you emotionally can’t get your mind into it, it’s not going to play out well to the people that are watching.
Also read: WWE Stars Given Ultimatum By TKO: Take Pay Cut Or Leave