Why I chose WWE over Olympic dreams – Oba Femi

Nigerian professional wrestler Isaac Odugbesan, popularly known as Oba Femi, has explained why he switched from athletics to professional wrestling.

The 28-year-old, who was once a promising shot putter with Olympic ambitions, said his transition began after he was discovered by WWE through social media.

Oba Femi recently gained global attention after defeating WWE veteran Brock Lesnar in under five minutes at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, marking one of the biggest wins of his career.

Speaking in an interview, he revealed that while he had aimed to compete at the Olympics and World Championships, his career path changed after relocating to the United States in 2017.

“I had aspirations to go to the Olympics and win medals, and I achieved some of that to a degree,” he said.

After leaving the University of Lagos, where he competed at the National University Games, he continued his athletics career in the U.S., winning multiple titles including the SEC Indoor Championships in 2021 and 2022.

However, his journey took a new turn in 2021 when WWE invited him for a tryout under its Next In Line programme, designed to recruit elite college athletes.

“They reached out to me on Instagram. I accepted, and everything changed from there,” he said, attributing his rapid rise to his athletic background and intensity.

He officially signed with WWE in December 2021, bringing an end to his track and field career and beginning what has become a fast-rising run in professional wrestling.