Nigerian-born professional wrestler Oba Femi has taken another major step on WWE’s biggest stage following his appearance against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
The bout, which ended in a disqualification after interference from Drew McIntyre, saw the reigning NXT Champion match Rhodes move for move, drawing attention to his growing presence beyond the NXT brand.
Femi, born Isaac Odugbesan in Nigeria, held his own throughout the encounter, with many fans and analysts viewing the match as a signal of his readiness for the WWE main roster.
Before turning to professional wrestling, Femi was an accomplished shot put athlete at the University of Alabama, where he won multiple SEC Track and Field titles.
He joined WWE in 2021 through its Name, Image and Likeness programme and made his televised NXT debut in 2022 after training at the WWE Performance Center.
Since then, he has built an impressive résumé, winning the 2024 NXT Breakout Tournament, becoming the youngest NXT North American Champion and holding the title for a record 273 days.
Standing at 6’4” and weighing over 300 pounds, Femi later added the NXT Championship to his achievements, with his recent clash with Rhodes further underlining his rising status in WWE.
