Biography
Oba Femi is the Nigerian powerhouse who has gone from college shot-putter to the man who beat Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania in under four years. The 2026 King of the Ring and a two-time NXT Champion, 'The Ruler' is now one of Raw's most imposing figures, fresh from seeing off Bronson Reed at Money in the Bank in October.
Born in Lagos, he was a decorated shot-putter long before he set foot in a ring. He collected a haul of medals at the Nigerian University Games before earning a track and field scholarship to Middle Tennessee State, then moved to the University of Alabama, where he won SEC shot put titles. A lifelong wrestling fan who grew up idolising Triple H and The Undertaker, he tried out for WWE in 2021 and was signed that December through the company's Next In Line programme for college athletes.
He reported to the Performance Center in August 2022 and was introduced properly on NXT in April 2023. His rise was rapid: he won the NXT Men's Breakout Tournament, then used his contract in January 2024 to take the North American Championship from Dragon Lee. He held it for a then-record 273 days, during which a Stand & Deliver triple threat against Dijak and Josh Briggs earned four and a half stars from Dave Meltzer and NXT's Match of the Year award. Tony D'Angelo finally ended the reign in October 2024, but Femi won the Iron Survivor Challenge that December.
On 7 January 2025 he beat Trick Williams and Eddy Thorpe to become NXT Champion, the first Next In Line graduate to win a top WWE title. Ricky Saints dethroned him in September after 263 days, but Femi regained the belt at Deadline in December. A week later he made his main-roster bow against Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night's Main Event, and in January 2026 he left the NXT title behind and vacated it.
His first months on the main roster were built around Lesnar. After entering the Royal Rumble at number one and being thrown out by The Beast, Femi answered Lesnar's open challenge at WrestleMania 42 and beat him. Lesnar evened the score at Clash in Italy, but Femi then won the King of the Ring, pinning Jey Uso in the final at Night of Champions, and settled the rivalry inside Hell in a Cell on night one of SummerSlam. Lesnar afterwards called him 'the future'.
Since then he has collided with The Vision, beating Bron Breakker by disqualification after Reed interfered and then overcoming Reed, brass knuckles and all, at Money in the Bank on 10 October 2026. He is without a title for now, but few doubt that a world championship run is next.
