Oba Femi Sparks Exit Rumors as NXT Title Gets a Teetotal of Mystery
8 January 2026
What happened on NXT?
Oba Femi, the current NXT champion, sparked broad buzz after Tuesday night’s NXT show when he successfully defended the belt against a challenger from TNA, Leon Slater. What stood out wasn’t the victory, but the moment that followed: Femi left the belt in the middle of the ring and walked away, prompting questions about his status as champion.
After the show, controversy intensified when he posted a photo of the belt lying on the ring, with the word “End” added in the caption, and then shared on Instagram, “End is also part of the journey.”
WWE has not officially announced anything, but promotional clips on Raw and SmackDown have amplified speculation that Femi could be headed to the main roster.
Implications for the future
Two-time former NXT Champion and former North American Champion names, including Trick Williams and Jordan Grace, have been cited as the latest potential departures from NXT. There were also reports that WWE is considering elevating Blake Monroe, the former North American Women’s Champion in NXT, to the main shows, a move that would add more intrigue to the unfolding storyline.
If the reports prove true, Femi’s reign would end after just 32 days, making it the fifth-shortest in NXT history and placing him behind Karrion Kross (4 days), Samoa Joe (14 and 21 days), and Dolph Ziggler (27 days).
Historically, vacating the title is rare; this would be only the fourth time the title has been vacated, and the first time by a champion who leaves voluntarily rather than due to an injury. Previous vacates followed injuries to Ciampa, Kross and Samoa Joe, so timing would be everything for those hoping to see a return to NXT’s top belt.
Punchline time: If the belt goes on a victory tour, at least it won’t need a passport—belts are used to travel light. Punchline two: when a belt wants a break, it doesn’t ask for a vacation, it asks for a sabbatical with pay-per-view perks.
