Oba Femi’s King of the Ring victory at Night of Champions was expected to lead directly to a world title match at SummerSlam, but WWE shifted course in a way that has drawn criticism. Instead of challenging Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship, Femi was confronted by Brock Lesnar on the following episode of RAW. The segment led to Lesnar challenging “The Ruler” to a Hell in a Cell match at SummerSlam.
Femi accepted the challenge, and in doing so, he gave up his guaranteed world title opportunity. The decision quickly sparked debate among fans, with many questioning the value of the King of the Ring stipulation if the reward is not followed through.
Oba Femi King of the Ring booking criticized
Matt Hardy is among those who have voiced concern about the direction. Speaking on The Extreme Life of Matt Hardy, Hardy explained that while he understands the appeal of a major match like Femi vs. Lesnar, the booking choice creates confusion around the purpose of the tournament.
“That’s strange … I’m okay with that, especially with where they’ve been. That’s a solid place for them to go, I think … rubber match. So, yeah, I can see that. And I think they’re such big stars and they’ve been portrayed as such big stars. I think it justifies a Hell In A Cell match. I can see that. It’s just weird to have him win that King of the Ring tournament with that stake and then not follow through with it,” Hardy said.
He continued by pointing to the importance of long-term planning when it comes to major stipulations and fan expectations.
“I feel like these things need to be mapped out further in advance. I think it kind of just undermines the stipulation or stakes. You want your fan base to say, oh, if we’re promising you something, you know you’re going to get it.”
Despite his criticism, Hardy made it clear that he does not oppose delaying Femi’s rise to the top. Instead, he suggested that building anticipation for a future title win could ultimately benefit the character if handled correctly.
Femi’s situation remains one of the more talked-about developments following Night of Champions. While the Hell in a Cell match against Lesnar presents a major spotlight opportunity, the decision to forgo the guaranteed title shot has raised ongoing questions about how WWE structures its major tournament rewards.
Matt Hardy Questions Oba Femi Booking Decision
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