Nigerian professional wrestler Oba Femi delivered a stunning performance on his WrestleMania debut, defeating 10-time champion Brock Lesnar in under five minutes at WrestleMania 42 on Sunday.
The bout, one of the headline attractions of the event, ended dramatically as the 27-year-old overpowered the veteran in a contest that quickly became one of the night’s biggest talking points. In a symbolic moment after the match, Lesnar left his wrestling gear in the ring—widely interpreted in professional wrestling as a sign of retirement.
Femi, also known as “The Ruler,” showed resilience early on as both men tested each other’s strength. Lesnar briefly took control with a series of offensive moves, but the Nigerian absorbed the pressure and shifted momentum with a dominant response.
The decisive moment came after Lesnar delivered his signature F5, only for Femi to recover quickly, land a chokeslam, and finish the match with his “Fall From Grace” sit-out powerbomb to secure the pinfall victory.
Born Isaac Odugbesan in Lagos, Femi has risen rapidly through the ranks, having spent just three months on WWE’s main roster.
Before his debut on the global stage, he built a strong reputation in NXT, where he became a two-time champion and also held the NXT North American title.
A former shotput athlete, Femi joined WWE in 2021 through its NIL programme and went on to win the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament and the 2024 Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
His victory over Lesnar has sparked joy and thrill amongst Nigerians, and many hope he can continue on that trajectory.
As for the bout, the generational contrast was evident. Femi, born in 1998, was just four years old when Lesnar made his WWE debut.
Following the match, Femi further electrified the crowd during the WrestleMania post-show by sending a message to Roman Reigns, popularly known as the “Original Tribal Chief,” hinting at a possible title challenge later in the year.
Standing at 6’4” and weighing around 310 pounds, Femi used his size and athleticism to full advantage, marking his arrival on WWE’s biggest stage with a statement victory that could shape the next phase of his career.
