Oba Femi is quickly becoming one of WWE’s most thrilling new talents, yet Drew McIntyre sees even more potential in a different fresh face on the main roster. Though Oba was promoted in January and delivered a strong showing in the men’s Royal Rumble, he remains a free agent.
The “Ruler” has already crossed paths with McIntyre, as the Scottish Warrior disrupted Oba’s main roster debut by interfering in his match against Nigerian Cody Rhodes on Saturday night, leading to a disqualification. Earlier in January on SmackDown, McIntyre had defeated Rhodes to capture the title and then became the Undisputed WWE Champion after SNME. While Oba chokeslammed McIntyre in a December encounter, there was no clear indication then that he had set his sights on the champion.
Drew McIntyre Applauds SmackDown’s Rising Talent
McIntyre acknowledged that he has ambitions and that multiple SmackDown superstars could challenge for his title. Trick Williams, another promising newcomer, issued a challenge to McIntyre last Friday. However, McIntyre focused on praising Williams, highlighting his impressive charisma, looks, and ability on TMZ’s Inside the Ring.
“Maybe Trick is the one to watch, at least that’s what we’ve seen so far. He has all the right qualities—looks, charisma, skill—and he steps up when given the chance. I was given the ball early in my career and had to find my path,” McIntyre shared.
Williams, who joined SmackDown in January, has already made an impact. He secured a spot in the No. 1 Contender’s Fatal 4-Way match at SNME, though he fell short of earning a title shot at the Rumble. The 31-year-old, a former two-time NXT Champion and the first WWE star to claim the TNA Championship, has impressed McIntyre, who added, “I hope Trick gets his opportunity and dominates it. Like me, he’s young, well-trained, and has a strong presence, so chances will come his way.”
McIntyre isn’t alone in his praise; WWE Hall of Famer Booker T also believes Williams has the qualities to be a future main eventer at WrestleMania. Despite playing a heel, Williams has garnered significant fan support.
Trick Williams’ Clear Path at WrestleMania 42
Williams has recently been in the conversation for a world title shot, and his exchanges with McIntyre on SmackDown reflect his ambitions. However, with stiff competition for the Undisputed WWE Championship, a WrestleMania match against McIntyre seems unlikely.
A more probable route for Williams is a rivalry with his former NXT ally-turned-adversary Carmelo Hayes over the United States Championship. Once close friends, Williams and Hayes clashed after Hayes adopted his heel persona. Now playing the villain, Williams confronting Hayes could set the stage for an electrifying WrestleMania storyline, providing the perfect opportunity for this new SmackDown star to capture his first main roster singles title.
Fan Take: This development highlights WWE’s growing focus on cultivating new main roster stars, signaling an exciting shift for wrestling fans. The showdown between Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes could offer a fresh, compelling narrative at WrestleMania, paving the way for emerging talents to shine on WWE’s biggest stage.
