'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Kevin Owens Era in WWE is officially on the clock. After beating Ryback and claiming the Intercontinental Title, the upstart rookie has proven he will be the force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future. It was only a matter of time before the former NXT champion claimed gold.
Now, WWE officials must be careful booking Owens, playing to his strengths and giving him solid opponents who will challenge him, but will also make the Intercontinental Title the valued piece of hardware it used to be.
Somewhere, Pat Patterson, Pedro Morales and Tito Santana are smiling, hoping there is a new day for the belt they carried with pride.
Can Owens be the savior that helps fix the company’s issue with making all its titles relevant again? The fans hope so. I hope so as well.
First, John Cena.
Next, Cesaro.
Now, Ryback.
When you look at Owens, his size and speed and ability, I think of him as the heavyweight who defies logic. Wrestlers like One Man Gang, Vader and Bam Bam Bigelow did the same thing. Frankly, there hasn’t been another competitor like them since that can show as much agility in a wrestling ring. And while he is a heel – for now – fans will get behind his prowess and his desire to, “Win titles and make money.”
At some point, as I have pointed out before, a face turn could mean Owens becomes the Roman Reigns-type character Vince McMahon has wanted all along.
Ryback will get another title shot, as dictated by rematch clauses and WWE’s need to draw a feud like this out, but after beating the Big Guy, who else poses a threat to Owens? Does the company see into the future far enough to know Owens could be the WWE World Champion as early as next year and carry the company like Randy Orton and Batista have done before?
Owens isn’t there yet, but again this is my column and I am foreshadowing.
Should the WWE take the conventional approach to building a champion, maybe they throw Bray Wyatt at Owens, or even look to continue to build the resume of Roman Reigns before the eventual rumor of a World Title run, as it has been suggested as late as last week.
Personally, I think a program with Reigns and Owens is exactly what Reigns needs to help his ascension toward the eventual heel turn and path toward the company pedestal.
Whatever happens to Owens between now and the end of the year with three pay-per-view events in the final months of the year, WWE should be cautious but confident that the new champion can deliver. Owens was every bit as dominant as Cena in his three-match dance earlier this year. He is solid in the ring, confident in delivering a promo and is as cocky and greedy as wrestlers of the past (see Harley Race and Ole Anderson). And best of all, Owens is ready for the main stage.
WWE has made such a big deal about pumping life into the United States Title by putting the strap on John Cena. Before he lost at SummerSlam, Cena was arguably the top champion in the promotion. The same thing can happen for Owens. All it will take is time, solid booking, and some patience. The rest is really up to him.
