WWE Hall of Famer Booker T has endorsed Oba Femi for a main roster call-up, stating the former champion is ready to compete on RAW or SmackDown. The endorsement comes just days after Femi’s dominant 263-day NXT Championship reign ended in a loss to Ricky Saints at NXT No Mercy on September 27.
Speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, Booker T praised Femi’s ability to “quarterback” the title match, highlighting his in-ring generalship as deeply impressive for a performer with only three years of experience. Booker emphasized the mark of a “true artist” is having losses that are as compelling as their victories, a standard he believes Femi met.
“One thing I’ve always said about true artists, guys that pick this up and really do very, very well – your losses have gotta be better than your wins, or just as good,” Booker said. “And that dude went out and he lost just as good as he went out there to take a W any day of the week.”
The Hall of Famer also commended Femi’s believable and impressive in-ring style, which has been a cornerstone of his rapid ascent. This on-screen persona, which Femi himself has described as functioning as an “obstacle” for opponents, draws its primary inspiration from the cinematic villain Thanos, allowing him to operate as a functional heel regardless of crowd reaction.
When directly asked if Femi was prepared for the main roster, Booker T’s assessment was unequivocal. “Let’s just say this, I think Oba can run with the big dogs. He can do it right now. Do I think he’s ready? Yes, I do,” Booker affirmed. “I like everything about Oba Femi, and I think if they were to pull the trigger with him, they could do very, very well, I really do.”
Femi’s run as NXT Champion began in January 2025 when he cashed in his NXT Breakout Tournament contract on Dragon Lee. During his nearly nine-month reign, Femi established himself as the brand’s “final boss,” a persona he cultivated while publicly stating his future ambitions include matches against main roster legends like John Cena and Randy Orton.