Why I dumped athletics for WWE – Oba Femi

Nigerian professional wrestler and former shot putter, Isaac Odugbesan, popularly known as Oba Femi in World Wrestling Entertainment, has opened up about his transition from an Olympic medal hopeful to a WWE superstar, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The former shot putter returned to the spotlight earlier this month after defeating WWE veteran Brock Lesnar in under five minutes at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. The match saw Oba Femi dominate key moments, even absorbing Lesnar’s signature “F5” before sealing victory with a chokeslam and his finishing move, “Fall From Grace,” for a decisive pin.

Following the win, Oba Femi’s rising profile has been linked to his Nigerian roots. He previously competed for the University of Lagos at the National University Games, where he won individual honours in athletics before relocating abroad in 2017.

Ahead of his clash with Lesnar, the 28-year-old spoke about his athletic ambitions in an interview with CNN.

“I had aspirations to go to the World Championships, to go to the Olympics, to win medals—and I achieved some of that to a degree. I’ve been very successful in everything I do,” he said.

After leaving UNILAG to study in the United States in 2017, he continued competing in track and field, winning the SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships in 2021 and 2022, as well as claiming the outdoor title in 2020.

However, by 2021, he had already joined WWE’s Next In Line initiative, which is designed to recruit and develop collegiate athletes into professional wrestlers. “They messaged me on Instagram and asked if I was interested in doing a trial. I said yes, and the rest is history. I’m guessing they saw the package—they saw the size. They saw some of my throwing videos where I showcased a lot of intensity.

“When you are an athlete, it’s a lifestyle. You become well-rounded as a person, and that is why my rise has been meteoric.”

Following a WWE tryout in August 2021, Oba Femi signed with the company on December 8 under the Next In Line programme. Punch