Nigerian wrestling sensation Oba Femi stunned WWE legend Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas, cementing his rise as one of the biggest new stars in professional wrestling
Nigerian WWE Star Oba Femi Floors Brock Lesnar in Stunning WrestleMania Upset
Oba Femi has officially announced himself as the next dominant force in World Wrestling Entertainment after delivering a stunning victory over wrestling icon Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 42 in Las Vegas.
The Lagos-born powerhouse, whose real name is Isaac Odugbesank, defeated the decorated WWE veteran in under five minutes on April 19, using his devastating signature move known as “Fall From Grace” to bring an emphatic end to one of wrestling’s most legendary eras.
The victory instantly elevated the 28-year-old Nigerian wrestler into elite WWE status, with many fans and analysts now describing him as the company’s next global superstar.
Days before the highly anticipated clash, Femi had already made his intentions clear during an interview with CNN’s Larry Madowo in Stamford, Connecticut.
“I will say that Brock was … one of those guys I idolized when I was growing up, but now I’m here and he’s still here … and I’m the one who’s going to knock him off the throne,” Femi declared confidently.
“I’ve idolized him, I’ve villainized him, so at WrestleMania when I beat him, I’m going to humanize him. I’ll show him the door.”
Inside the packed arena in Las Vegas, the Nigerian star delivered exactly that promise.
Using his trademark “Fall From Grace” maneuver, Femi hoisted Lesnar onto his shoulders before slamming the WWE legend violently onto the mat to secure the career-defining victory.
Explaining the inspiration behind the move’s name, Femi said: “When you’ve fallen out of favor with the king and you’re no longer special in the king’s eyes, you’ve fallen from grace. So that’s where the name comes from. It’s very symbolic. When my opponents are no longer in favor with The Ruler, they fall from grace.”
The defeat proved even more symbolic after Lesnar reportedly left his boots and gloves inside the ring — a long-standing wrestling tradition widely viewed as a sign of retirement.
For Femi, the moment marked the culmination of a remarkable journey from the streets of Lagos to the pinnacle of global sports entertainment.
The Nigerian wrestler said growing up in Nigeria shaped the resilience and mentality that prepared him for worldwide success.
“The way the country is structured, if you can make it there, if you can survive there, you can survive anywhere. I feel like that’s where the … saying really comes from: ‘Naija no dey carry last,’” he said.
The popular Nigerian expression reflects determination, resilience and the refusal to settle for failure — qualities many fans now associate with Femi’s rapid rise.
He also credited his Yoruba upbringing for shaping his personality and discipline.
“The ‘respect culture’ that comes with being Yoruba, you know … it takes you far. You have to bring some element of respect and likability to the table … and that’s one thing that Yoruba people are pretty good at,” he added.
Before stepping into WWE, Femi built a successful career in athletics after relocating to the United States to study at the University of Alabama.
As a standout shot put athlete, he won multiple Southeastern Conference titles and set an impressive school record with a throw measuring 20.7 meters.
“I definitely had aspirations to go to the World Championships, to go to the Olympics, to win medals,” he recalled.
But his sporting journey took a dramatic turn after WWE scouts reportedly discovered him through social media videos showcasing both his size and explosive intensity.
“I’m guessing they saw the package, they saw the size, you know, they saw some of my throwing videos. I showcase some sort of intensity during my throwing, so I’m sure that’s what drew them (to me),” he explained.
Although he qualified for the 2022 World Championships in athletics, Femi said he had already committed mentally to beginning his WWE career.
“I took that piece of information, put it in my pocket and I continued heading towards the WWE because that chapter was closed,” he said.
Beyond sports, Femi also revealed another side of his personality rarely seen by wrestling fans — his passion for art.
The WWE star holds a bachelor’s degree in visual arts and once believed art would become his lifelong career.
“As a kid, because they told me I was good at it, I thought I was going to be an artist,” he said.
However, he admitted the pressure of expectations eventually pushed him away from drawing.
“It became this thing where people put me in a box, because I was good at it. They said, ‘Oh, you are going to be an artist. Oh, he’s good at art,’ and it didn’t really give me the opportunity to explore and, you know, see what I actually was good at.”
Despite stepping away from art, he said it still holds “a place in my heart,” leaving open the possibility of returning to it in the future.
Now firmly established as one of WWE’s fastest-rising global stars, Femi says his biggest ambition extends beyond titles and championships.
“I just want … to be that symbol of emotional attachment for some young child watching right now, so when they grow up, they can be like, ‘Wow, I remember watching Oba Femi,’” he said.
“I just want to leave an impact on the generation coming up so they can feel how I felt coming up.”
At just 28, the Nigerian superstar has already transformed from artist to athlete to global wrestling sensation — and by all indications, the reign of “The Ruler” may only just be beginning.
