WWE fans were deeply saddened during the build-up to WrestleMania 41 when former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens announced on the April 4 episode of “WWE Smackdown” that he would be stepping away from wrestling for personal reasons. Owens revealed he had been struggling with neck problems for some time and, after attempting to push through the pain to participate in a scheduled match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41, he confirmed that neck surgery was necessary, leading him to pause his career indefinitely.
There was an earlier report claiming Owens had already undergone surgery, which later proved to be inaccurate. However, a recent update from Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select confirmed that Owens finally had neck surgery on July 18 and is now on the road to recovery. WWE insiders say it will take at least a year for him to fully heal, making it unlikely for Owens to return by WrestleMania 42 in April 2026.
Prior to this announcement, Owens appeared on Cody Rhodes’ podcast, “What do you want to talk about?” where he mentioned feeling less pain and believed he might soon be ready to wrestle again. Despite this, his spinal condition was severe enough that he couldn’t be medically cleared to return. His spinal cord needed to heal naturally before surgery could be performed, which would ultimately aid in a smoother recovery process.
Fan Take: Kevin Owens’ injury and recovery timeline is a significant moment for WWE fans because it underscores the physical toll the sport takes on its performers. His absence will be deeply felt in the wrestling world, but his eventual return could serve as an inspiring comeback story and reminder of the resilience needed in professional wrestling.
