NXT Champion Oba Femi was a recent guest on The Hall of Fame podcast, where he discussed his dominant run, his thoughts on comparisons to Brock Lesnar, and why he believes being a fan is the best training for a career in professional wrestling.
When asked by co-host Brad Gilmore about the frequent comparisons to fellow collegiate athlete and powerhouse Brock Lesnar, Oba Femi acknowledged the similarities but was quick to assert his own unique identity. “I’ve definitely taken some things, some inspiration from him, in the way I work. But I don’t think there’s a one-to-one correlation between Brock Lesnar and Oba Femi,” he stated. “The athleticism is there, and the strength is there. But I think Oba Femi is a beast of its own… Oba Femi is a very unique experience.”
He continued, “The people who draw the most correlation between Lesnar and Femi are the people who haven’t really seen a lot of Oba Femi… When you know the character of the ruler, the destroyer, the bringer of war, you will understand that that is a unique experience that the WWE Universe has never seen before. Oba Femi is a one of one.”
The Best Training Is Being A Fan
Oba Femi, who grew up as a fan in Nigeria, also shared his belief that watching the product is the best preparation for performing in it. “A lot of people ask, what’s the best sport to transition into wrestling? Some people think it’s football… amateur wrestling. But to me, personally, there’s no other sport than being a fan,” he explained. “When you’ve watched it as a child, you just, you know the timing. You know when to hit your lines… when you become a professional wrestler, you can just do it.”
A Hero’s Welcome in Nigeria
The champion also described the “very interesting” experience of returning to his home country of Nigeria now that he is a WWE Superstar. “I come into the airport and a lot of people see me. A lot of people know who I am, and say, ‘Oh my God, that’s Oba Femi,'” he shared. “And then I get to my own neighborhood where my family is, and I walk in the door, and everybody’s excited to see, you know, the young man that left them seven, eight years ago, which is Isaac (his real name is Isaac Odugbesan).”
Oba Femi is the current reigning NXT Champion. He is scheduled to defend his title in a triple threat match against Josh Briggs and Yoshiki Inamura at the NXT television taping this Tuesday in Houston, Texas.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Hall of Fame with Booker T & Brad Gilmore with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
