Kevin Owens Reveals the “Weird” Thing About WWE After 17-Month Return

Kevin Owens has revealed one of the strangest things he noticed after returning to WWE following a lengthy 17-month absence caused by a serious neck injury.

The Prizefighter was forced to step away from in-ring competition after discovering the extent of his neck injury while preparing to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41. He eventually underwent neck fusion surgery and was uncertain whether he would ever be able to wrestle again.

Kevin Owens says WWE felt exactly the same after his return

After spending more than 500 days away from WWE, Owens made his long-awaited return at SummerSlam earlier this month. Despite being away from the promotion for such a long period, he was surprised by how familiar everything felt.

During a recent interview with Faces Magazine, Owens described the experience as “weird,” explaining that things inside WWE seemed to have returned to exactly how they were before his absence.

“You know, when you don’t see people for so long, sometimes things change, but not at all. It’s literally, like, right back to where things were.”

Owens explained that the situation almost made him feel as though he had never been away, despite spending more than a year outside the ring.

“It almost makes me feel like no time at all passed, that I wasn’t gone. But I was, for a long time, and that’s kind of a weird thing that everything feels so business as usual after not being there for so long.”

Kevin Owens returned after major neck surgery

Owens’ comeback was particularly significant because there was a genuine possibility that his wrestling career could have been over.

The WWE star had been scheduled to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 before his neck problem forced him to withdraw from competition. After undergoing neck fusion surgery, Owens spent months recovering and working toward a potential return.

His eventual comeback came at SummerSlam, where he entered a Fatal Four-Way number-one contender’s match for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Owens defeated Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and Gunther

In his first major match back, Owens defeated Sami Zayn, Finn Balor and Gunther in the Fatal Four-Way contest to earn a shot at the Undisputed WWE Championship.

The victory immediately placed him back into the upper echelon of WWE and set up a major championship opportunity against CM Punk.

His rapid transition from a long-term injury absence to a major title storyline has made his comeback one of the most notable WWE returns of the year.

Kevin Owens cut his vacation short for WWE return

Owens also revealed that the final stage of his comeback happened much faster than expected. While he was on vacation, he learned in mid-July that he could begin the process of getting medically cleared to wrestle.

Instead of continuing his holiday, Owens decided to return early so he could complete the necessary medical evaluations as quickly as possible.

“Yeah, everything was so quick. That’s the craziest part. By the time they told me I could get back in the ring, that was mid-July. I cut my vacation short to get back in the ring as soon as I could,” Owens said.

The decision ultimately helped Owens return in time for SummerSlam and immediately become involved in the Undisputed WWE Championship picture.

Kevin Owens set for CM Punk championship clash

Owens’ comeback will now lead him into a major showdown with CM Punk on SmackDown in Toronto, with the Undisputed WWE Championship on the line.

The two veterans also have a long-standing history dating back to their time in Ring of Honor nearly two decades ago. Owens has previously admitted that he and Punk do not get along, adding another layer of tension to their upcoming match.

After 17 months away from WWE and uncertainty over whether he would ever wrestle again, Owens is now back in a major championship storyline. Whether he can complete his comeback by defeating CM Punk for the title remains to be seen.