Backstage Update on Oba Femi’s Main Roster Plans – As noted, Oba Femi officially vacated the NXT Championship following a successful title defense in the main event of NXT New Year’s Evil on January 6, 2026. The event took place at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida, where Femi defeated TNA X-Division Champion Leon Slater to retain the title. Moments after the match, Femi delivered a shocking visual when he placed the NXT Championship belt in the center of the ring and walked away without a word, signaling the end of his run on the brand.

WWE later confirmed the vacancy through its official social media channels, immediately fueling speculation about Femi’s next move. The timing aligns with recent vignettes that have aired on both WWE RAW and WWE SmackDown in recent weeks, strongly pointing toward an imminent main roster debut.

Femi leaves NXT as one of the most dominant champions in the brand’s history. Alongside his NXT Championship reign, he previously held the NXT North American Championship for a record-setting 273 days. His presentation throughout 2025 positioned him as an unstoppable force, and that status was reportedly a major factor in the decision to have him vacate the title after a win rather than lose it in competition.

According to WrestleVotes Radio, Femi is expected to land on WWE RAW. The report adds that creative plans may place him near the top of the card quickly, with long-term ideas potentially building toward a significant role at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas. While WWE has not officially confirmed his brand assignment, the belief internally is that his transition is imminent.

With the NXT Championship now vacant, attention has shifted to who will step up next. Ricky Saints, who holds a 1-1 record against Femi, appeared earlier in the night to stake his claim. Meanwhile, Tony D’Angelo was shown watching from the crowd as the show closed on a lingering shot of the abandoned championship in the ring.

NXT General Manager Ava has stated that further details regarding the future of the title will be announced soon as the brand moves into a new chapter.

Backstage Update on Oba Femi’s Main Roster Plans

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