Why did WWE choose Brock Lesnar rematch over World title showdown against Roman Reigns for Oba Femi at SummerSlam 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty)
Brock Lesnar returned to attack Oba Femi in New Jersey.
In the opening moments of the June 30 Night of Champions fallout show of Monday Night Raw in Atlantic City, New Jersey, 2026 King of the Ring tournament winner Oba Femi was confronted by Brock Lesnar.
Femi was about to announce his pick for SummerSlam after winning the KOTR tournament that granted him a World title match of his choosing. However, before he could announce his pick, Lesnar arrived, confronting Femi, before landing a low blow followed by an F5.
Femi got on the mic after the attack to challenge Lesnar to a match at SummerSlam in Minnesota. Lesnar accepted and added that it should be a Hell in a Cell match, to which Femi agreed, making the third showdown official as both stars are 1-1 going into the rubber match.
Following the announcement, a new report from the Wrestling Observer shed some light on why WWE picked a rematch with Lesnar for Femi instead of a World title match with Roman Reigns.
WWE wants to take time with Oba Femi
Speaking on the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer stated that WWE is carefully building Oba Femi into its next major star, which is why the promotion is holding off on a match with Roman Reigns until WrestleMania 43.
Meltzer explained the mentality behind the decision, noting SummerSlam is not a strong enough PLE when compared to WrestleMania, especially when they’re trying to make Femi into an “unbeatable monster.”
“They could put Oba over Roman. They could’ve sat here and gone, ‘We’ve got to make a new star. Let’s put Oba over Roman Reigns at SummerSlam.’ They could’ve done it, But their mentality is just that if he’s the guy, we want to make the guy…This is a weird thing. Before, if you wanted to make the guy, you figured out the right time to make the guy and did it.
Now, you have to do it at WrestleMania because if it’s SummerSlam, it’s not strong enough. If it’s on a B pay-per-view…That is the mentality. You get him over. The idea is he’s an unbeatable monster, and we take our time to get to WrestleMania.”
[H/T: Ringside News]
World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns’ SummerSlam showdown was also confirmed on this past Monday’s Raw as his former Shield stablemate, Seth Rollins, confronted him following his win over Bron Breakker at Night of Champions.
Reigns and Rollins are set to revive their feud, which will culminate in a showdown where the World Heavyweight title will be up for grabs.
The 39th edition of WWE SummerSlam will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Why did WWE book Oba Femi vs Brock Lesnar instead of a title match for the KOTR winner?
Per Metlzer, WWE is carefully building Oba into its next major star, which is why the promotion is holding off on a match with Roman Reigns until WrestleMania 43.
When and where will SummerSlam 2026 take place?
The 39th edition will air as a two-night spectacle on Saturday, August 1, and Sunday, August 2, 2026, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.
Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.