JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – More NXT stars are on Going Ringside this week and we’re talking about two of the most popular: Oba Femi and Lola Vice.
Oba Femi
Before sitting down to record our interview with NXT star Oba Femi, we chatted about different things that happen in the ring. Moves like chops, moves like punches. But Oba Femi said they don’t really affect him.
“Very durable athlete,” said Femi. “Every coach I’ve ever worked with said the same thing.”
Femi is originally from Nigeria and college coaches noticed he was gifted.
“There’s a little bit of backstory in it,” said Femi, who was a breakout college star in shot put. “My coach in Nigeria was in touch with the coach in Middle Tennessee. So as soon as I hit my mark where I could get a scholarship, they made all the arrangements.”
After Middle Tennessee State, Femi transferred to the University of Alabama. Then WWE came calling and he was picked up for NXT.
“They DM’d me of all things,” said Femi of WWE. “I thought it was fake. I did my research, found out it was real. Took them up on the offer. Did the tryout. Got the job and here we are.”
And he’s been dominant since showing up on the NXT brand, which debuted on CW Network Oct. 1. At the time of our interview, Femi had almost become the longest North American Champion in history. And now he has officially hit that mark.
One surprising moment in this interview came when we asked Femi about his thoughts on WWE eventually doing a Premium Live Event (PLE) on the continent of Africa where he grew up. It’s a continent pro wrestling has almost never ventured into.
“I would love to see a PLE in Africa,” said Femi. “We’ve had live shows go to South Africa, I believe, but it’s much more than just South Africa. I feel like the entire continent is riding hot for WWE. And once we tap into that market, it would be unbelievable.”
Another surprising moment in the interview is who Femi said he has his eye on for a fight someday: new NXT Champ Trick Williams.
“Right now, Trick Williams is the guy. I’m letting him have his little party right now,” said Femi. “When the time comes, Trick.”
Lola Vice
Wrestlers come into the company with all sorts of athletic backgrounds. For Femi, it was shotput. For others like Kelani Jordan, it was gymnastics. But for Lola Vice, it was fighting.
Vice (real name Valerie Loureda) started getting the world’s attention in mixed martial arts. With several wins in Bellator, Vice was a natural fit for WWE.
She tried out in 2022 at WrestleMania 38 and was quickly brought into NXT.
“This is way harder than anything I’ve ever done in my life,” said Vice. “Because when you’re fighting you have one objective and that is to knock the person out in front of you. But here in the WWE you also have that objective, you’re also an entertainer.”
Vice added in MMA she would have one fight every four months. But in WWE, it’s non-stop with shows every Tuesday night on CW.
“Once I got this call, I knew that this opportunity only comes once and I had the opportunity to be the first Cuban American woman. And I knew that this was my time, this was my destiny,” said Vice.
One frustration for Vice is that she’s yet to win a title. That’s something she wants to change but it doesn’t end there.
“Definitely, I want to headline WrestleMania someday,” said Vice. “And I want to do that in Miami, like The Rock did.”
And along the wa, there have been problems like with her former partner, Elektra Lopez.
“Electra was just always jealous of me,” said Vice. “She never wanted me to have my shine and at some point, I got sick and tired of it, and I turned on her.”
Despite a lack of gold, Vice has become one of the most popular talents on NXT and she says she struggles with humility. By nature, she says, she’s humble but that doesn’t always work in the world of WWE.
“It’s a good and a bad thing,” she said. “I’m learning to be humble but also be very comfortable in myself.”
Also on this episode, Victoria Crawford is back to discuss numerous topics, including the new Vince McMahon docuseries on Netflix, the return of The Rock this past week and the new media deal for AEW.