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Open Challenge at WrestleMania 42
Brock Lesnar’s WrestleMania 42 Open Challenge drew a direct response from Oba Femi, setting up a collision that WWE framed as a test of dominance at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“The Beast dared the WWE Superstars to answer his Open Challenge for WrestleMania 42, and Oba Femi brazenly took the call.”
In the lead-up, WWE described how “The Beast dared the WWE Superstars to answer his Open Challenge for WrestleMania 42, and Oba Femi brazenly took the call.”
WWE’s account says Femi “strolled to the ring before dropping Lesnar with a shocking Fall from Grace,” then “placed his foot onto the fallen Beast.”
The same WWE piece ties the matchup to a specific WrestleMania 42 schedule, saying the event “STREAMS LIVE on Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19, at 6 ET/3 PT at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.”
It also places the rivalry in the context of prior elimination, stating that “The Beast… eliminated Femi from this year’s Royal Rumble Match.”
WWE’s preview further asserts that Femi has “posted an undefeated singles record while mowing down everyone in his path since arriving in December.”
The matchup is therefore presented as both a rematch of sorts and a high-stakes step for a newcomer positioned as Lesnar’s toughest test at WrestleMania 42.
From Debut to Main Event
The build to WrestleMania 42 also reflects how quickly Oba Femi’s WWE career accelerated, with multiple outlets tracing a timeline from his entry into the company to his position in the main event spotlight.
The VoxCatch biography says Femi “is a Nigerian professional wrestler born in Lagos on April 22, 1998,” and it adds that he “began his career by signing his first contract with the Stamford-based company in December 2021.”
It then places his early development in NXT, stating he “debuted in NXT on house shows and on NXT Level Up in November 2022.”
VoxCatch further details a rise to prominence by saying “between December 2023 and January 2024” he won the “NXT Breakout Tournament (men's),” defeating “Myles Borne, Tavion Heights, and Riley Osborne in succession.”
It also gives specific championship milestones, including that on “January 9, 2024, he defeated Dragon Lee to become the new NXT North American Champion,” and that he “remained champion for 273 days.”
TheSportster adds a different but complementary set of background details, stating Femi “was born in Lagos, Nigeria and moved to the United States in 2017,” and that he was “a three-time SEC shot put champion at Middle Tennessee State University.”
It also describes his WWE entry as “joined WWE in 2021, signing with Next In Line (NIL), a program designed to help college athletes transition to the world of professional wrestling.”
Together, these accounts frame WrestleMania 42 not as a sudden appearance but as the culmination of a rapid progression from Lagos to WWE’s main stage.
Voices, Accents, and Identity
Beyond the match itself, outlets highlighted how Oba Femi’s identity and presentation are part of the story WWE is telling, including how he speaks and how he is perceived by fans.
“I did grow up 19 years in Nigeria, and I don't think people fully understand that.”
TheSportster focuses on his “Fake” Nigerian accent framing, but it also quotes Femi explaining his own approach, saying he told The Rich Eisen Show’s “No-Contest Wrestling” that “I did grow up 19 years in Nigeria, and I don't think people fully understand that.”
In the same quote, Femi says, “This is my accent, like this is — yes, it's like it's played up on TV for sure, but this is how I talk,” and he adds that he can “do both [accents].”
TheSportster also describes his ability to “code-switch his speaking voice,” and it quotes Femi concluding, “People think one is real, one is fake — no, like, both are me. I just have the ability to code-switch.”
CNN’s coverage, meanwhile, places Femi’s rise in a broader personal frame, describing that in a CNN interview with Larry Madowo he “credits Yoruba roots and work ethic.”
The Guardian Nigeria News adds a different set of voices by quoting Olympic wrestling gold medallist Daniel Igali, who described Femi’s feat as “a good thing for Nigeria,” and said it “has brought positive attention to Nigeria.”
It also includes a perspective from the former president of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, who said, “We have been getting a lot of inquiries about wrestling,” and explained that “what they actually want to know is about professional wrestling.”
Across these accounts, the match is tied to how Femi’s background, speaking voice, and public reception are being narrated by different named figures.
How the Event Was Watched
The event’s reach and viewing details were presented differently across outlets, but they all anchored WrestleMania 42 to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and to a two-night schedule.
Goal’s guide says “Over two massive nights on Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19, 2026,” WrestleMania 42 will take place “under the gleaming roof of the Death Star. WWE,” and it places the venue at “Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada (adjacent to Las Vegas).”
Goal also states that “WrestleMania 42 takes place over two nights, Saturday April 18 and Sunday April 19,” and it says “In the United States you can watch all WrestleMania 42 events live by watching ESPN.”
It further provides a streaming plan detail, saying WrestleMania “will be streamed as part of ESPN DTC’s Unlimited plan, which requires a monthly subscription of $29.99.”
The same Goal article adds that “WrestleMania will be streamed as part of ESPN DTC’s Unlimited plan,” and it also mentions Fubo pricing, including “$45.99 for the first month, then $55.99 per month.”
By contrast, 365Scores says “As of 2026, global live streaming rights have moved to Netflix,” and it specifies that WrestleMania 42 “will be streamed exclusively and live on Netflix in the Middle East region (Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, and the rest of the Arab world).”
It also states that “In the United States, the show will be broadcast on Disney’s ESPN platform,” and that “the linear channels (ESPN2 and ESPN) will air the first hour of each night for free.”
Even the WWE-focused preview ties the event to “Saturday, April 18, and Sunday, April 19” and “6 ET/3 PT,” reinforcing that the schedule is central to how the match is marketed for audiences.
Aftermath and What Comes Next
The aftermath of the Lesnar-Femi clash is described as both a turning point for Lesnar and a moment that reshapes attention toward Nigerian wrestling, with named figures and specific claims about what followed.
“recently made history when he defeatedBrock Lesnarin his debut atWrestleManiaRaw”
The Guardian Nigeria News says Femi “recently made history when he defeated Brock Lesnar in his debut at WrestleManiaRaw,” and it adds that “the loss forced the American to announce his retirement from the game.”
It also frames the event as a global media moment, stating that the fight “drew billions of viewers to the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, United States,” and it claims “generating over 1.3 billion views across allsocial media platforms.”
The same outlet ties the event to a specific date, saying “on April 19, 2026,” fans were “treated to a spectacular display of grit, perseverance, and the triumph of dedicated pursuit of excellence.”
It then quotes Daniel Igali again, describing that Femi’s feat “has brought positive attention to Nigeria,” while also acknowledging the scripted nature of the entertainment by stating, “Although he acknowledged that professional wrestling is make-believe.”
The Guardian Nigeria News also includes the Nigeria Wrestling Federation perspective, quoting its former president that “We have been getting a lot of inquiries about wrestling,” and that young people want to know “what they actually want to know is about professional wrestling.”
Meanwhile, VoxCatch’s biography positions the WrestleMania 42 matchup as part of Femi’s trajectory, stating that “Oba Femi made his main roster debut in the Men’s Royal Rumble at WWE Royal Rumble 2026, and faced Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42.”
Taken together, these accounts depict WrestleMania 42 as a decisive moment that triggers retirement talk for Lesnar and renewed interest in wrestling among Nigerian audiences.
