Oba Femi has achieved an incredible rise in just a few years—one that has surprised wrestling fans around the world. There was a time when casual fans didn’t even know his name, and today, he has already defeated Brock Lesnar clean at WrestleMania. A rise to the top this quickly is extremely rare in professional wrestling. Here are 10 fascinating facts that explain how “The Ruler” became one of WWE’s biggest stars in such a short time.
1. His Real Name Is Isaac Odugbesan
Oba Femi is his ring name. His real name is Isaac Odugbesan, and he was born on April 22, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria. WWE created a dominant and regal character for him, but behind that persona is a Nigerian athlete who dreamed of becoming a WWE Superstar from a very young age. At the time, that dream seemed almost impossible, but today it has become a reality.
2. He Grew Up Watching Triple H and The Undertaker
Oba Femi has revealed that he has been a wrestling fan since he was just six years old. Growing up, his favorite superstars were Triple H and The Undertaker. What makes his story even more remarkable is that he was watching WWE from Nigeria, where access to professional wrestling was limited and becoming a WWE Superstar didn’t seem like an easy dream to achieve. That’s why Oba Femi’s journey has become an inspiration not only for himself but also for thousands of wrestling fans across Africa. He has proved that with dedication and hard work, it’s possible to rise from anywhere in the world and make it to WWE’s biggest stage.
3. He Was a High-Level Shot Put Athlete Before Wrestling
Before joining WWE, Oba Femi was a serious track and field athlete who competed in the shot put at a high level. In 2017, he moved to the United States to pursue college athletics. He first competed for Middle Tennessee State University before transferring to the University of Alabama, where he won multiple SEC Shot Put Championships.
This wasn’t just a hobby—it was a successful athletic career. That’s one of the biggest reasons why Oba Femi arrived in WWE with an incredibly powerful physique that most wrestlers spend years trying to build..
4. WWE Signed Him Through Its NIL Program
Oba Femi joined WWE’s Next in Line (NIL) program in December 2021. The program was designed to recruit talented college athletes directly from amateur sports instead of the traditional independent wrestling circuit. In August 2022, Oba Femi reported to the WWE Performance Center, officially beginning his professional wrestling journey. Today, Oba Femi is widely considered one of the biggest success stories of WWE’s NIL program. He has proven that with talent, dedication, and the right guidance, an athlete can become a top WWE superstar without first spending years on the independent wrestling circuit.
Oba Femi is the first of the NIL signees to become a Champion in WWE! #WWENXT pic.twitter.com/fLH0YDxeWo
— Stephanie Hypes (@StephanieHypes) January 10, 2024
5. His NXT Debut Didn’t Go as Expected
Looking at Oba Femi today, it’s easy to believe that he has always been an unstoppable force. However, his journey began very differently. In November 2022, he lost his debut match on NXT Level Up to Dante Chen. A short time later, he suffered another televised defeat as well.
It’s a reminder that not every future superstar has a perfect beginning. In many cases, WWE gradually builds a wrestler’s character before giving them a major push. Oba Femi’s journey is one of the best examples of that process.
6. He Won a Championship Through His First Major Tournament
Oba Femi’s rise happened incredibly quickly. By winning the 2023 NXT Men’s Breakout Tournament, he sent a clear message to the entire NXT roster that he was one of the company’s brightest future stars. Using the championship opportunity he earned from the tournament, he immediately challenged for the NXT North American Championship.
In January 2024, Oba Femi defeated Dragon Lee to capture the North American Championship. With that victory, he became the youngest NXT North American Champion in the title’s history at the time. The achievement proved just how much confidence WWE had in his talent and showed that the company viewed him as one of its future top stars.
7. He Set a Championship Reign Record
Oba Femi didn’t just win the NXT North American Championship—he completely dominated the division during his reign. His title reign lasted 272 days, making it the longest North American Championship reign in the title’s history at that time.
A championship reign of that length is never given by chance. It proved that WWE had complete confidence in Oba Femi’s talent and had already made long-term plans for him well before his main roster call-up. That historic reign became a major milestone in his career and made it clear that WWE viewed him as one of the company’s future top superstars.
8. His Entrance Strut Is a Tribute to Ric Flair
One of the most recognizable parts of Oba Femi’s entrance is his confident strut. Oba Femi has revealed that the walk is his personal tribute to WWE Hall of Famer Ric Flair. At first glance, it may seem like a small detail, but over time it has become one of his signature trademarks.
Today, whenever Oba Femi makes his entrance, many fans can be seen copying his iconic strut. This simple gesture has become a memorable part of his character and adds even more personality to his overall presentation.
9. He Shocked the Wrestling World by Defeating Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42
This was the moment that completely changed Oba Femi’s career. After joining the main roster following the Royal Rumble 2026, he found himself facing one of the most dominant superstars in WWE history, Brock Lesnar. Most people believed this would be the biggest challenge of Oba Femi’s career.
However, at WrestleMania 42, Oba Femi shocked the wrestling world by defeating Brock Lesnar clean. Just a few years earlier, he had been losing matches on NXT Level Up, and now he had defeated one of WWE’s greatest legends on the company’s biggest stage. That victory became the biggest turning point of his career and firmly established him as one of WWE’s future top stars.
10. He Won King of the Ring on His First Attempt
Oba Femi’s momentum didn’t slow down even after defeating Brock Lesnar. Following that career-defining victory, he delivered an outstanding performance in the King of the Ring 2026 tournament and captured the crown in his very first attempt.
"YOU CAN'T BEAT ME" 👑
— WWE (@WWE) June 27, 2026
The Ruler Oba Femi is now the 2026 King of the Ring! pic.twitter.com/KGBJvtsK4m
By that point, he had already accumulated two NXT Championship reigns along with the NXT North American Championship. Achieving so many major accomplishments in such a short time after arriving on the main roster is extremely rare. Very few WWE superstars have reached so many significant milestones so early in their careers.
Gaurav Sharma
Founder & Lead Writer, Wrestling Nightmare
I’ve been hooked on wrestling since childhood—from the Attitude Era to today’s Bloodline saga, plus AEW and TNA. My favorite match of all time is The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002), and I’ll always stand by Bray Wyatt’s untapped potential.
At Wrestling Nightmare, I break down news, analyze matches, and drop verified recaps. Got a correction or wanna debate? Hit me up at contact@wrestlingnightmare.com
