Some wait for destiny to arrive — others take it. That’s what Oba Femi has done, stepping into the squared circle and dominating the competition in recent years. Once a decorated track-and-field competitor and shot put standout who earned SEC titles at the University of Alabama, Femi’s explosive strength and athleticism have laid the foundation for a monumental career, and he’s only just getting started.
After joining WWE’s Next in Line program back in 2021, Femi quickly transformed into The Ruler, a gargantuan presence whose potential exceeds his years in the business. His meteoric rise up the NXT’s ranks reads like a how-to manual for success, from storming through the 2023 NXT Breakout Tournament to capturing the NXT North American Championship to ascending atop the brand by winning the NXT Championship not once, but twice.
In December, he went head-to-head with Cody Rhodes, putting on a strong performance before outside interference from Drew McIntyre resulted in a disqualification.
WWE has announced that Femi will be debuting at the Royal Rumble on Jan. 31, so it’s best that fans get familiar with the dominant force looming near the main roster.
Scroll on for everything to know about Oba Femi.
Birth name: Isaac Odugbesan
Ring name: Oba Femi
Date of birth: April 22, 1998
From: Lagos, Nigeria
Signature move: Fall from Grace
Debut: 2022
Entrance theme song: “Hands of Fate”
Age: 27
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 310
At NXT New Year’s Evil, The Ruler successfully defended the NXT Championship against Leon Slater. He left the NXT Championship in the ring, indicating his time with NXT has reached its crescendo, and that he’s poised for fresh battles on WWE’s main roster.
Femi will make his debut at the Royal Rumble on Jan. 31. It has not been announced whether Femi will join Raw or Smackdown, but one thing is clear: The future of WWE’s landscape is about to meet a most powerful new heir.
