5 reasons Kevin Owens should've signed with AEW instead of WWE

AEW missed out on a huge opportunity to land one of WWE's top talents in Kevin Owens. The former Universal Champion has opted to stay with the company instead of entering free agency and signed fresh terms that include a new multi-year deal, according to Sean Ross Sapp from Fightful.

After a period of speculation, it seems like Kevin Owens will not be All Elite anytime soon. There were rumors the superstar could have crossed over to Tony Khan’s promotion once his WWE contract expired in January. Owens even played up the rumors by teasing fans on social media.

But WWE has seemingly made an offer that Owens couldn't refuse. Going into WWE's first PPV of 2022, Day 1, he is currently part of the WWE Championship fatal four-Way alongside Bobby Lashley, Seth Rollins and Big E.

Perhaps WWE will finally pull the trigger on a long overdue title victory and main event run for Owens, who last held a world title back in 2016. But could The Prizefighter have had a greater impact on AEW instead?

Here are 5 reasons Owens would have benefitted from joining Tony Khan's promotion.

---

#5 AEW would have provided Kevin Owens a lighter schedule

WWE is notorious for having a tough travel schedule which has burned out countless wrestlers. The superstars not only wrestle on Raw, SmackDown or NXT but also on monthly PPVs and live events. The lifestyle is grueling and while the pandemic has allowed the wrestlers to lessen their schedule and travel, it could eventually go back to the status quo once the world opens up fully.

Owens is a well-known family man and AEW's lighter schedule might have appealed to him, seeing as the company only has weekly television without regular house-show commitments. AEW's pay-per-views are only four times a year. With the flexibility comes more family time and it would have served him immensely.

#4 AEW would've paid Kevin Owens comparably to WWE

Based on backstage reactions from AEW talent, it’s said that most in the company did not think it was realistic as the younger company wouldn’t have matched the offer WWE presented Owens. However, it's also a known fact that the Khan family's networth is almost double that of Vince McMahon's.

According to Forbes "The World's Billionaire List" of 2019, Vince McMahon ranked on number 691 with an estimated net worth of $3.2 billion and while Tony Khan’s name did not feature in the list, his father and business tycoon Shahid Khan ranked as the 224th richest person with $7.2 billion.

Regardless of the decision Kevin Owens made, it essentially would have boiled down to which company could offer him the best deal from a financial perspective. Owens himself stated that his decision to re-sign with WWE felt easy because it was really the best thing for his family.

But AEW could have offered Owens what he wanted or even better. Money certainly wouldn't have been an issue. But it seems his familiarity with WWE and the sizable offer contributed to his decision in the end.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter reported that there were people within AEW who felt that the promotion couldn't match WWE's offer. However, considering Owens' star power and his history with some of the biggest stars in All Elite Wrestling, it's hard to imagine that he wouldn't have been able to negotiate for a comparable offer from Tony Khan.

#3 AEW would have let Kevin Owens be with his friends

AEW is full of wrestlers with whom Kevin Owens has a known history. Some of the top talent in the company, such as Kenny Omega, the Young Bucks and Adam Cole are long-time friends. In fact, they used to be part of a stable called Mt. Rushmore. Bringing the former Universal Champion to AEW and reuniting the faction would have been a mouthwatering prospect.

Owens even teased fans earlier this year when he posted a cryptic tweet detailing the coordinates of the actual Mt. Rushmore monument, alluding to this possibility.

Owens' previous run on the independent scene as Kevin Steen was amazing. He was a top promo guy and his insane athleticism bellied his size. Imagine if he was able to unleash his full wrestling repertoire in AEW. With his friends by his side, he would also have been able to enjoy a more positive work environment instead of butting heads with WWE management.

#2 AEW would have allowed Kevin Owens greater creative freedom and different opponents

AEW would have been a new playground for Kevin Owens. The list of match-ups and possibilities is endless. Owens has done it all in WWE. He is a former Universal Champion, NXT Champion, United States Champion and Intercontinental Champion.

He has also had rivalries with the likes of Roman Reigns, Finn Balor, John Cena and Big E, just to name a few. Other than competing at the main event of WrestleMania, there really isn't much left for Owens to accomplish in WWE.

In AEW, Owens would've had a fresh batch of opponents and potential feuds. He can renew past rivalries from previous promotions such as Kenny Omega from their time in Pro Wrestling Guerilla (PWG) and Chris Jericho, who he had an awesome chemistry with from their time in WWE.

Whether it's as a heel or a face, Owens can put over young talent like MJF and Darby Allin or fight for the top titles right off the bat. To top it all off, he would have the freedom to craft his own promos and pitch storylines. It certainly is a missed opportunity.

#1 AEW is launching the Owen Hart Cup, which Kevin Owens could have possibly won

AEW announced back in September that they would launch the Owen Hart Cup tournament. It is part of a collaboration between the company and the family of Owen Hart to honor the late pro wrestling legend’s legacy. Owen's widow Martha Hart spoke about the partnership at the time stating:

“The Owen Hart Foundation is extremely pleased to partner with AEW in this wonderful joint venture to honor Owen’s substantial international wrestling career and the lasting influence he and his craft has had in the sport,” Owen’s widow, Dr. Martha Hart, said. “AEW’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament serves as a tremendous tribute to Owen and provides an incredible way for professional wrestling enthusiasts to celebrate his work in a most fitting way. We trust that Tony Khan and his amazing AEW team will do a brilliant job with this highly anticipated project. This OHF/AEW partnership is my special gift to all of Owen’s magnificent loyal fans who forever remember him and his inspiring repertoire of talents.”

Kevin Owens is, of course, a well-known Owen Hart fan. The wrestler chose his WWE name as a tribute to the Canadian legend and even named his son after him. There was speculation that The Prizefighter would jump ship to AEW and become the inaugural winner of the tournament

That certainly would have been a compelling reason to consider any offer from Tony Khan. While that doesn't seem to be a reality for Kevin Owens right now, AEW's loss is WWE's gain