Oba Femi didn’t even appear on SmackDown, but fans still made him one of the most talked-about moments of the night.
During the April 3 episode of SmackDown, a strong crowd reaction broke out before the main event match between Sami Zayn and Carmelo Hayes for the United States Championship. While the show was in a commercial break, Oba Femi’s music played inside the arena, and the reaction that followed showed just how popular he has become with live crowds.
According to Ringside News writer H. Jenkins, who was in attendance, nearly the entire arena joined in on Oba Femi’s signature entrance dance despite him not coming out to the ring. The moment quickly turned into a full crowd participation segment, showing how much the audience has connected with his character.
Fans didn’t just dance along — they also started chanting his name, creating a loud and unified reaction throughout the building. The familiar “O BA… O BA…” chants echoed across the arena as large portions of the crowd stood on their feet and joined in.
Jenkins also captured footage of the moment, showing just how widespread the reaction was, with a huge portion of the arena participating at the same time. Seeing that level of engagement for a wrestler who wasn’t even appearing live speaks volumes about how over Oba Femi currently is with WWE fans.
This reaction comes as Oba Femi continues to build momentum heading toward WrestleMania, where he is set for a major showdown with Brock Lesnar. Moments like this suggest his popularity isn’t just limited to TV segments — it’s carrying over in a big way with live audiences as well.
Do you think Oba Femi getting that kind of reaction without even appearing on SmackDown proves he’s becoming one of WWE’s biggest breakout stars, or is it still too early to call? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.