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WWE Smackdown's debut on FOX marked a significant moment for Kevin Owens.
It saw the Prizefighter defeat Shane McMahon in a ladder match, vanquishing the self-proclaimed Best in the World from the brand.
The win ended months of one-screen frustration for the Canadian, who has found Vince McMahon's eldest child a constant thorn in his side.
With Shane firmly in his rearview mirror, it leaves Owens at a crossroads as to what to next.
WWE - and wrestling in general - is changing for the better, which could be of great benefit to Owens as it could offer up fresh opportunities to him after some inconsistent booking in the last couple of years.
So here are four potential next steps for Kevin Owens.
#4. A move to RAW
With the WWE Draft starting on the next episode of SmackDown, it's probably safe to say that the Blue brand could be a lot more congested by the time the month is over.
With speculation rife that the likes of The Fiend and Seth Rollins could make Friday nights their new home, there is a slight chance that KO could end up lost in the shuffle.
As a result, it would make a lot of sense for him to make the move back to RAW.
If it is true that RAW is set to lose some of their big names, they could do with a bit of star power - as well as a consistent performer who is familiar with success.
When you look at the current WWE roster, there aren't many with the resume Owens has. A former Intercontinental, US and Universal Champion, Owens would seamlessly fit into the RAW brand's main event scene.
The potential for new matches for KO as well is mouth-watering, as well. How great would a uber physical match with Cesaro be? Or even a former independent circuit dream match with Ricochet?
#3. Return to NXT
The recent return to Full Sail of Finn Balor has opened up plenty of possibilities for other former NXT stars to return to the Yellow brand.
After his storyline 'firing' during his program with Shane McMahon, many speculated that it could lead to Owens showing up on NXT TV at some point. KO even added fuel this to the fire by sending out a cryptic tweet that seemed to indicate he was returning to the brand he once made his home.
For the confused, the 14th, 24th, and 20th letters of the English alphabet are N, X, and T.
Many fans were left to wonder whether or not the former NXT champion would appear on the brand's debut show on the USA Network last month. While this didn't come to fruition, a return to Full Sail for KO shouldn't be ruled out.
With AEW proving direct ratings competition with their yellow and black brand, WWE could look to someone who fans of the AEW product would be drawn to in order to boost those audience numbers.
Owens fits that bill perfectly. Not only is he a charismatic character on the mic who isn't afraid to speak his mind, but he also has the ability to both fly like a cruiserweight while bullying others around like a heavyweight.
Considering the fact that the current NXT champion is a man who he has plenty of history with from the independent scene in Adam Cole, having KO on NXT could prove a massive draw for fans worldwide.
#2. Going for the WWE Championship
Given the events of Smackdown's debut on FOX, it looks highly that we will see Brock Lesnar vs Cain Velasquez for the WWE Championship in the not-to-distant future.
In fact, we could see it as soon as Crown Jewel, according to Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Based on this fact, it would seem Velasquez could only be in WWE as a short-term measure, meaning Brock will need a long term feud if he was to retain in Saudi Arabia.
Enter Kevin Owens.
The beginning of Owens feud with Shane was his frustration with the fact that Shane was taking TV time away from talented wrestlers such as Asuka, Kairi Sane, and Buddy Murphy.
A similar argument could be used to kickstart a feud with The Beast Incarnate before the year is out.
He could state his annoyance that wrestlers such as him scratch and claw every night to get a chance but end with nothing, while the likes of Lesnar just show up one night and get a Championship opportunity.
Owens top level promo skills would also make him an equal match for Paul Heyman.
The potential match up with Brock as well would be an intriguing contest. Owens wouldn't be a man who can be easily manhandled, and his finishing moves of the Pop-Up Powerbomb and The Stunner are believable threats to Lesnar.
He doesn't need to win, but just providing a scare to Lesnar's title reign will be enough for KO.
#1. Royal Rumble
This potential future plan for Kevin Owens is the one that excites me the most.
In his past appearances in the Royal Rumble match, Owens has always proved himself as a workhorse in the contest. However, his status as a heel each time has meant that not many have bought his chances of winning, as history has shown that most Rumble winners are babyfaces.
Owens status as now one of the most popular members of the roster though has seen his Rumble odds increase tenfold.
It would also make perfect sense as well if his defeat of Shane results in more issues with authority if WWE continues to incorporate that aspect. Winning the 2020 Royal Rumble would then be the perfect anti-establishment move, overcoming the great odds involved in a Rumble to stamp his ticket to Wrestlemania.
One of the good things about this move as well is that it could also incorporate aspects of the other three that have previously been mentioned. He could be the one to take down Lesnar, albeit later than I had originally predicted. He could also use his opportunity to move brands and challenge one of their champions.
That previously mentioned feud with Adam Cole - how much better would that look if it was as a result of a Rumble win opportunity, leading to the first NXT Championship match at Wrestlemania. What better way to establish your third brand than that?
What do you think is next for Kevin Owens? Share your ideas in the comments section!
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