WWE SmackDown’s Kevin Owens has confirmed that he is contending with a neck injury that necessitates surgical intervention.
As a result of this, Owens will not be able to participate in a face-off with Randy Orton at the 41st WrestleMania.
In the lead up to WWE SmackDown, Owens joined the ‘My Mom’s Basement’ podcast where he disclosed that he might have incurred his neck injury during a standard match in December.
The timeline for Owens’ return to the ring is currently undetermined.
The podcast included the following standout moments:
Discussing his neck injury, Owens said: “After 25 years in the business, it felt somewhat inevitable with the nature of our work. It’s unfortunate, particularly the timing. I had high hopes this wouldn’t happen. Despite my 25-year tenure, I felt exceptionally well. Even now, I feel quite robust, truth be told. It wasn’t a constant issue, but in recent months, I noted something off during my matches. On investigating it further, we discovered there was a problem with my neck.”
Talking about when he likely got injured in December, he shared:“I’m convinced there was a specific event. In December, out of curiosity, I underwent a comprehensive body MRI. It’s a standard procedure where you can evaluate your bone structure and organ status. The report highlighted my poorly conditioned knees, a fact I was already familiar with. The MRI indicated something amiss with my spine and showed mild to moderate stenosis. After consultation with WWE doctors, I was informed that given our profession, everyone has a level of stenosis. Considering that, everything looked in good shape. But, following a match in January, where I believe my neck got jarred badly, that’s when my troubles commenced. I sensed something was wrong. After a recent MRI we found out it’s a serious condition. I strongly believe that the match in January caused this, as only a month prior to that, my MRI results were good.”
On the WWE doctor declaring him unfit for WrestleMania, he divulged: “Several people have been consulted regarding this. Upon hearing the news from the WWE doctor that I was unable to participate in WrestleMania, I was stunned. My expectation was that any issue would be resolved post-WrestleMania. When the news was broken, I was so taken aback I tuned out his detailed explanations. As of now, I barely comprehend the exact nature of my condition. All I know is that it’s something to do with my neck and it’s hampering my mobility. I lost focus entirely. I’m unclear about whether my condition is similar to others. I do know that the treatment recommended mirrors what many others have undergone.”
About not being able to compete against Randy Orton at WrestleMania, Owens reflected: “It’s regrettable. Missing out on the Randy Orton match at WrestlMania is a bitter pill to swallow. The fact that irks me the most is not being able to participate. I hope to make a comeback, but nothing can be certain in our profession. There’s the wish to eventually have that match, but this year with Randy Orton at the WrestleMania would have been monumental for me. I draw solace from the fact that I competed last year. This year we wouldn’t have had the other annoying guy in it, which would have been an added bonus.”
About the timeline for his return, he commented: “I’m unsure. I have yet to confer with the surgeon or any other relevant medical personnel. I aim to do all that come Monday. I’m aware that most people with similar conditions took between six to twelve months to recuperate. I’m assuming it would be the same for me, but who can say for certain? Currently, everything is still very fresh and new.”
In regard to his neck injury, he continued: “Ironically, it occured during a standard match, not my Ladder Match with Cody Rhodes or my Unsanctioned Match with Sami Zayn. I’m aware critics will say, ‘See, this is why you shouldn’t do this stuff.’ But, this was a regular match, no extreme stunts or anything. Just two routine acts I’ve performed countless times. Perhaps, with hindsight, wrestling those [PLE] matches weren’t the best decision considering my condition, but at the time we were oblivious.”
On fan assumptions when his neck injury occured, he noted:‘They’ll jump to conclusions based on what they think they’ve witnessed. However, we are in the business of creating illusions, of convincing people something that is not actually happening, and I’m exceedingly good at that. It’s frustrating when people assume things based on their limited understanding. Regardless of explanations or clarifications, detractors will always hold onto their beliefs.’