Kevin Owens-WWE Update

When Kevin Owens suffered a severe neck injury in April 2025, the initial prognosis was grim. Reports at the time suggested the damage was significant enough to rule him out of action potentially through WrestleMania 42. However, hope was rekindled in November when the “Prizefighter” shared a brief video clip of himself engaging in recovery training. Naturally, fans began to speculate that a surprise return at the Royal Rumble could be in the cards. Unfortunately, a new report suggests that those expectations should be tempered.

“No Serious Ring Training”

In a recent Q&A session on Fightful Select, Sean Ross Sapp addressed the rumors surrounding an imminent return for Owens. He reminded fans that while the injury occurred in April, Owens did not undergo surgery until July, significantly pushing back his recovery timeline. Sapp noted that he has not heard any information suggesting Owens has resumed serious in-ring training, a necessary step before being cleared for competition.

“Qualifying that Owens didn’t even have surgery until July… Nobody in WWE has told me about any plans for him creatively, or discussions about him coming back at this point. I think they’ll wait until he heals and sees where his heart is at after undergoing such a serious injury.”

Putting Rumors to Rest

The report also poured cold water on the fantasy booking of a “Jeri-KO” reunion. With Chris Jericho’s status currently a mystery, speculation had mounted that the two former best friends could reunite in WWE. Sapp indicated that while Jericho is likely to return to the ring significantly sooner than Owens—whether in WWE or elsewhere—the timeline for Owens makes any immediate team-up impossible. The company appears to be taking a cautious “wait and see” approach, prioritizing Owens’ long-term health over a rushed creative return.

The Void on Raw

Owens’ continued absence leaves a noticeable void on the Raw roster, particularly as the brand heads toward the Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. With top babyfaces like CM Punk occupied in the World Title picture and Seth Rollins currently sidelined with his own injury, the “Prizefighter” role remains unfilled. As the red brand travels to Belfast, Ireland next week for a massive show featuring Punk vs. Finn Balor, the lack of Owens’ unpredictable energy will be felt, though it opens the door for other stars to step up and claim a spot in the Rumble match that might have otherwise been reserved for the former Universal Champion.

Credit Source: Fightful Select. Thanks for checking out this article.