Subhojeet Mukherjee on February 12, 2026
Oba Femi didn’t lose the NXT Championship—he walked away from it. And now, the Ruler is explaining exactly why.
Weeks after he relinquished the title in the ring following NXT New Year’s Evil in January 2026, Oba has finally broken his silence. Speaking on the No Contest Wrestling podcast on February 11, Femi confirmed he was never meant to go out with a loss. He was already heading to the main roster, which is why he had to relinquish the title.
“I’ve known for a while now, even before I relinquished the NXT Championship. I knew that was part of the reason the move was made. I was already guaranteed a main roster spot. I had already signed my contract—I just hadn’t been assigned a brand yet.”
Oba said that NXT had already done its job preparing him for the next level. His confidence skyrocketed after working a match with Cody Rhodes during John Cena’s retirement loop, which he described as a turning point.
“My mindset at that moment was that NXT had done everything possible to prepare me for the main roster. I got to work with Cody Rhodes at Saturday Night’s Main Event during John Cena’s retirement. That proved to me that I belonged. So I had a lot of confidence getting called up. I was ready for the moment. The only thing left was to ride out my time in NXT, which I did.”
That ride ended in January, and WWE moved quickly. Joe Hendry was crowned new NXT Champion in February—but Oba’s exit wasn’t about a passing of the torch. It was about proving he was ready to carry the company’s future.
“Now I’m on the main roster, and it’s very real for a lot of people. It lets me know where the company kind of sees me caliber-wise… I believe it’s me, Asuka, and the War Raiders, if I’m not mistaken. That is a very short list, and it’s a privilege to be on it.”
Oba added that the way he left the brand was done with intention. No defeat, no farewell speech—just a clean break and a reminder that he’s built different.
“Now I have to show everybody coming up to the main roster that this wasn’t just done for anybody… You don’t just have any regular call-up on your hands—you have a superstar here.”
Oba Femi made it clear: walking away as champion wasn’t a loophole—it was a statement. And now that he’s on the main roster, he’s not here to blend in. He’s here to dominate.
What’s your take on Oba Femi vacating the NXT Title instead of passing the torch in-ring? Smart move or missed moment? Drop your thoughts in the comments—we want to hear from you.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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