Oba Femi, the newly crowned NXT Champion, addressed accusations of faking his accent during his promo on the January 14th edition of NXT. Speaking on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Femi clarified that his accent stems from his upbringing in Nigeria, where he lived for 19 years. While acknowledging that his accent may appear exaggerated on television, he emphasized that it is authentic.
Femi explained to hosts O’Shea Jackson and TJ Jefferson that his ability to code-switch, a skill he developed after living in the United States for seven years. He shared how he switches between accents depending on the context, such as speaking casually in public. “Both accents are real for me,” he said, adding that he intentionally used this ability during his promo to engage fans and give them “something to talk about.”
“It’s played up on TV for sure, but this is how I talk. I can also code-switch because I’ve been in the States, it’s played up on TV for sure, but this is how I talk. I can also code-switch because I’ve been in the States for like seven years. So if I go to the store and I’m like, ‘Hey man, you put that thing in the bag,’ I can do both.
People think, ‘Oh, one is real, one is fake.’ But no, both are me. I just have the ability to code-switch. for like seven years. So if I go to the store and I’m like, ‘Hey man, you put that thing in the bag,’ I can do both. People think, ‘Oh, one is real, one is fake.’ But no, both are me. I just have the ability to code-switch.”
Femi also discussed his mindset as a champion, noting that while he didn’t grow up dreaming of his current position, he always believed he could achieve it. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to entertain fans and clarified that his promo decisions were deliberate.
Now holding the NXT Championship, Femi has become a prominent target in the division. Fans have praised his honesty and ability to connect with the audience. As WWE continues to develop storylines around him, Femi’s unique personality and skills will likely play a key role in his championship reign.