Kevin Owens Reveals When WWE Cleared Him for In-Ring Return

[Kemo]

Former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens has revealed when doctors finally cleared him for an in-ring return.

Owens made his comeback at SummerSlam 2026 after spending months recovering from a serious neck injury. Owens had been out of action since before WrestleMania 41. Reports before WWE SummerSlam revealed that he was training again. Fans believed his WWE return was getting very close.

At SummerSlam, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis added two more names. Gunther and the returning Kevin Owens entered the title match. The bout became a Fatal 4-Way on Night Two. Owens pinned Sami Zayn after hitting a Stunner. The win earned him a future Undisputed WWE Championship match against CM Punk.

During WWE’s SummerSlam post-show, Owens revealed he was only cleared a few weeks ago. He admitted there was a time he feared wrestling again was impossible. “There was a moment I thought it wasn’t gonna happen, and I definitely did not make peace with it. I was not ready. Getting this taken away from you when you’re not ready is hard.”

Owens thanked his wife, children, friends and WWE’s medical staff. He also thanked Big E for supporting him throughout recovery. He revealed doctors kept checking his neck after surgery. However, the scans weren’t showing the healing they needed.

“Up to a month ago I was like ‘This may be it’. We kept doing scans; it kept not showing what we were hoping for as far as the healing process from the surgery. Then I was like ‘Well maybe it’s not gonna happen.’ Then a couple of weeks ago they said, ‘We finally saw what we needed to see, you can get back in the ring.’ From there, here I am.”

[Smartmark]

If they are doing yet another Owens/Sami feud I think I'm gonna have a stroke tbh.

But if it leads to a feud with Cm Punk, I am all in!