Some WWE stars reluctant to work with Oba Femi, backstage report says
Some WWE wrestlers are reportedly hesitant to work with Oba Femi, a concern aired on the Self Made Session following the Money in the Bank 2026 pay-per-view. The comments suggested reluctance stems from booking consequences rather than personal dislike.
Oba Femi has emerged as a prominent rising figure within WWE after an extended run in NXT and high-profile wins over Brock Lesnar and Bronson Reed. His Femi vs Reed match at Money in the Bank 2026 was one of the most-watched highlights on WWE’s YouTube Channel, and while some fans criticized other PLE outcomes they widely praised Femi’s victory. Femi is a two-time NXT Champion and a former NXT North American Champion, but he has not yet captured a WWE main roster (Raw/SmackDown) title.
Wrestling personality Self Made Pro addressed locker-room reactions when asked about established stars putting over younger talents such as Oba Femi and Bron Breakker. He said: "It really depends on who you ask because it depends. It depends on where your spot is on the card. I know that there were a lot of wrestlers that were hesitant to work Oba Femi, not out of anything personally against Oba, but because they knew, 'Oh, if I’m being paired against Oba Femi, I’m going to be, like, f****** and sent down the card a little bit.'"
Self Made Pro emphasised the issue is not personal animosity toward Femi but a calculation by some performers about the potential cost to their own standing. He named Gunther as another established wrestler who, according to his remarks, faces similar reluctance from certain colleagues.
The report described the broader booking dynamic behind the hesitation: promotions often use established performers to build a potential main-event act through decisive losses in high-profile matches. The piece noted that while such programmes can boost the winner’s credibility, the direction given to the losing competitor afterwards is consequential for that performer’s career trajectory.
The commentary warned against portraying Femi as an almost invincible character without clear follow-up for those who lose to him, saying the reluctance to face Femi "has nothing to do with the in-ring skill level of the superstar but is rather due to the possible effects of working with such a superstar." The source added that without a subsequent storyline the defeated wrestler risks a loss of credibility.
The report also argued that competitive matches can benefit the losing wrestler by testing and pushing the opponent, potentially enhancing both performers’ standing. It cited rumours that Oba Femi might face Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 43 and noted Femi confronted the reigning World Heavyweight Champion after Money in the Bank, signalling his desire to face top-level competition.
Oba Femi’s next official match has not yet been formally announced; he remains involved in ongoing storylines that include interactions with Paul Heyman and possible future pursuits targeting the World Heavyweight Champion.