Oba Femi’s recent response to losing the NXT title isn’t just a display of sportsmanship—it’s a masterclass in why he’s ready for the WWE main roster. And this is the part most people miss: it’s not just about his physical prowess; it’s his mindset that sets him apart. On the No-Contest Wrestling Podcast (https://youtu.be/Jrf2kxWswAw?si=yv61gjprAU-gXElr), Femi showcased the kind of professionalism WWE expects from its top stars, leaving no doubt that he’s cut out for the big leagues.
When hosts O’Shea Jackson Jr. and TJ Jefferson asked if he was blindsided by losing the NXT Championship to Ricky Saints at No Mercy (https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/386006/ricky-saints-wins-nxt-championship-at-no-mercy), Femi’s response was refreshingly straightforward: ‘No. It’s a job, and I’m well aware of that. Whatever the booker wants.’ But here’s where it gets controversial: Femi referred to wrestlers as ‘tools’ to execute the vision of creative leaders like Shawn Michaels and Paul Levesque. While some might bristle at the term, Femi’s point is clear—wrestling is a collaborative art, and egos have no place in it.
‘When people lose sight of that, they get caught up in their feelings,’ Femi explained. ‘I just thought, ‘There’s probably a good reason for this,’ and I went with it.’ Jefferson praised this mindset, noting that Femi is ‘ahead of the curve’ in an industry where many struggle to see the bigger picture.
At the time of his loss, Femi was in the midst of a 262-day title reign—one of NXT’s most dominant—when Saints cleanly defeated him in September. He reclaimed the title in December at Deadline but vacated it just 31 days later after his main roster call-up. Today, Femi is listed as a ‘free agent’ (https://www.cagesideseats.com/wwe/416968/oba-femi-goes-wherever-he-darn-well-pleases) on WWE’s roster page, a move that underscores his versatility and value.
A Possible Test—Or Is It?
Historically, WWE has tested talent by booking them to lose, gauging their reaction. In a 2021 Wrestling Shoot Interviews (https://youtu.be/Eb3cp0TiKvQ?si=Wig-wOi_bDGYKBVB), Steve Lombardi recalled a 1987 incident where he told the Ultimate Warrior that agents would test him by having him lose to Lombardi. ‘I just told Warrior to say, ‘Anything you want,’ Lombardi said. That mindset paid off—less than three years later, Warrior defeated Hulk Hogan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania VI.
Was Femi’s title loss a similar test? Or did Shawn Michaels simply see value in giving Saints a brief championship run? Either way, Femi’s response proves he gets it. He’s saying the right things, prioritizing the company, and putting business first. If it was a test, he aced it—which is why he’s now a dominant force on the main roster.
But here’s the question: Is Femi’s ‘tool’ mindset the key to long-term success in WWE, or does it risk losing the passion that makes wrestling so compelling? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate that’s sure to spark differing opinions.
