The NeXT Legend Killer: Oba Femi Could Revive an Old Gimmick

Randy Orton is having a good time in WWE. Perhaps it is his run-in with retirement or just the knowledge of his job security. At Crown Jewel, Kevin Owens tried to take out the iconic Orton, but smart money says that won't happen. Seeing him sprawled out after his brawl with Owens, though, did show fans something. His willingness to sacrifice himself because of his age and experience is very "Logan" coded. Ironically, "Old Man Orton" is a grizzled veteran or, dare we say it, a legend. Given where his career really took off, as the harbinger of change pushing out or "killing" the legends, there is poetry in this. The circle, though, can only be completed by facing down the monster he once was. This is why the reportedly main-roster-bound Oba Femi could revive an old gimmick to become the new "Legend Killer."

"Legacy" and "Destiny" make the characters feel different.

Coming from a wrestling family, Orton's turn against the legends his father and he knew personally was a betrayal. It was one of their own, twisting the knife into the "boys in the back." All of that was inflicted on people from a time when that was not at all acceptable. The traitor's vibes still play into the Orton-aura; he is routinely referred to as "The Viper." All of his descent into that headspace was from a sense of duty to his name. It was to carve a legacy that eclipses that of his father and everyone else.

Oba Femi is not from a wrestling lineage. He doesn't have a complex about his legacy but rather a delusion about his destiny. He feels he is meant to be at the top of the food chain. Orton played it as a sneaky coward, taking out the legends he grew up on. Femi usually opts for a more direct approach. He challenges those who would deem themselves superior. Both ways could work for a character collecting icons for his resume.

Moving past Orton for just a second, there are still plenty of other talented legends in the wings for a man of destiny to concur them. Goldberg is getting a retirement match in 2025, and John Cena has already embarked on his retirement tour. Both men would be impressive victories for Oba, making his main roster debut. Attacking people like Scott Steiner can set up feuds with current stars as well. Of course, the man at the end of that streak would be the guy who invented the craft, Randy Orton. The different ways they could go about the same journey make it feel less like a copy and more like a tribute to the enduring character WWE and Orton created. Having Orton fall into it this time around would be great for his character, as well as Femi's.

Oba needs a little tweak to his current gimmick.

The leader, without his belt, isn't a great gimmick. If Oba Femi could revive an old gimmick, he should because there should be some doubts about his current one on the main roster. He is physically gifted, without question. He also exudes charisma. Those traits ensure that with a strong character at the introduction, he will be just fine. His presence on NXT makes the show better; in a short time, relatively speaking, he has become an NXT icon. Femi, in his current form, will get the same treatment that Bronson Reed, Braun Strowman, or Bron Breakker get. It is a little old hat, though, especially if you can name several others on the same roster. You can easily keep his freak athlete qualities and even his monstrous approach to competition while finding another "character" to define it. Big men can be defined beyond their size.

To avoid his getting lost in that already crowded lane, the "legend killer" arc would free him up to build out his character. Anyone watching him perform knows how strong and fast he is, so making that all he has when he isn't wrestling is boring. If he talks about it being his destiny to become a WWE Hall of Famer or his mission to rid WWE of the old guard to make way for his vision of "the new," that is compelling TV. It separates him from a lot of other guys on the roster who are simply some variation of "a wrestler," which is one of the worst aspects of the current WWE product that is otherwise quite hot.

Making Oba Femi "The Legend Killer" at his debut.

So, Oba Femi could revive an old gimmick, but how would that look in practice? Raw announces two ECW legends, Rob Van Dam and Bubba Ray Dudley. They enter the ring after massive applause, only for Oba Femi to crash the segment. He says nothing. Then, he snaps in a sudden rage and dominates the two. Sheamus comes out to try and make a save. This sets up his first real feud, where he powers through Sheamus. His list of backstage targets can include names like Booker T, Shawn Michaels, and JBL. He can work with CM Punk, John Cena, and Rey Mysterio, as well as second-generation stars like Bron Breaker and even Cody Rhodes. This run sees him go undefeated, building to a streak vs career match with Goldberg. After that win, he sends Goldberg to the wrestling retirement home and just calls Orton out. There is no need for a long plot or a contrived fight; he wants him one-on-one for the next major event. From there, WWE has a big star and loads of options for the future in its two resident legend killers. The veteran is taking out the new threat, and the young gun surpasses the old guard. Either way, it is peak pro-wrestling.