Oba Femi recently outlined his vision for redefining the traditional big man role in professional wrestling. During a conversation with Sports Illustrated’s The Takedown, the NXT North American Champion detailed his approach to evolving the powerhouse wrestling style.
Femi shared his perspective on bringing innovation to the main roster:
I want to take what I’ve done here in NXT, and that is redefine what the big man style is, and I plan to take it up there and throw it in the mix. I think I’ve done a good job of putting a spin on what the typical big man is. I’ve shown that the typical big man – the new big man, let’s call it that, the new big man is a talker, the new big man is a thinker, and the new big man moves fast. I’m changing the perception of what that is. I hope that I can go to the main roster and show that to the world on a bigger platform than NXT. I love NXT to death. NXT is doing very well for itself. It’s going up in viewers, and it gets viewers every year, but the main roster is the bigger audience.
Championship Aspirations and Brand Development
While focused on evolution, Femi remains committed to elevating NXT’s status. Speaking with The Ringer Wrestling Worldwide, he discussed his immediate goals within the developmental brand:
Yes. I mean, everyone does. Now we’re trying to make NXT maybe a third brand by implementing the transfer portal. I grew up watching Smackdown and Raw, and from my general understanding of progression in the game, you go from developmental to the main roster, and for that reason alone, yes, I would jump through the window tomorrow. But I also feel like I have a part to play in elevating what NXT is seen as today. That’s why I want to win the NXT Championship and represent this brand, be the top guy, and show that professional wrestling is still a sport and all that.
The North American Champion also shared his vision for potential championship merchandise, suggesting designs incorporating beads and maintaining the distinctive thick strap design of the current title.
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