8-year absence may end with Oba Femi showdown

I couldn’t find any verified reports from the last 24 hours confirming a direct James Ellsworth vs Oba Femi storyline, but recent WWE programming and build-up around Oba Femi continues to fuel speculation about major crossover or surprise opponent angles on the road to Backlash and beyond.

Femi has been positioned as one of the most dominant rising forces on the main roster, while Ellsworth remains a nostalgic name from WWE’s mid-2010s era, making this rumored clash more of a fan-driven talking point than an officially announced program at this stage.

Oba Femi has recently been presented as an unstoppable powerhouse on RAW, regularly dominating open challenges and defeating established talent in decisive fashion, reinforcing WWE’s long-term strategy of building him as a future world champion.

His recent appearances have shown him operating with growing confidence, often overwhelming opponents within minutes and leaving a strong impression as a destructive force in the modern roster structure.

This presentation has naturally sparked curiosity about who could realistically step up to challenge him next.

A shock return angle that could shake WWE’s current landscape

The idea of James Ellsworth returning after years away adds a dramatic contrast, given his underdog legacy and comedic but memorable WWE run.

While no official storyline confirms a return or match agreement, wrestling discussions have often highlighted WWE’s history of surprise comebacks used to elevate dominant stars. In that context, Ellsworth’s name resurfaces as a symbolic “outmatched challenger” narrative rather than a competitive equal to Femi’s current dominance.

Ellsworth last appeared in WWE programming several years ago, and since then he has remained mostly outside the spotlight, occasionally expressing interest in wrestling returns in interviews and online discussions.

Meanwhile, Oba Femi’s momentum has been building rapidly, with WWE clearly protecting his aura through strong booking decisions and limited vulnerability on screen.

If WWE were to explore such a matchup, it would likely be framed as a short, storyline-driven segment rather than a competitive rivalry, emphasizing Femi’s strength while using Ellsworth’s underdog identity for crowd reaction and entertainment value.

However, at this moment, there is no confirmed match announcement or official WWE storyline linking the two.

For now, the rumored showdown remains speculation fueled by fan discussion, while Oba Femi continues to rise as one of WWE’s most protected new-generation stars.