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Kevin Owens was the first Universal Champion to hold the title for more than one night and the Prizefighter played a key role in elevating the title's prestige by holding it for nearly 170 days. He was then inserted into the US Title picture and then drafted to SmackDown Live, where he had epic feuds with the likes of AJ Styles and Shane McMahon.
Owens established himself as a top WWE star with his performances on Tuesday nights but after the Superstar Shake-up of 2018 KO suddenly got lost in the mix on RAW.
He was involved in a meaningless feud with Braun Strowman which did no good to either of the 2 superstars, and to add salt to the wound, Owens got injured after that feud which sidelined him from in-ring competition. However, according to the rumor mill, he will be ready to return to the ring by the end of February.
Here are the 5 possible ways Kevin Owens can return to the WWE.
#5 Shows up on RAW a month before WrestleMania, calls out the Universal Champion Brock Lesnar
Now, it's no secret that Owens' initial title reign was cut short due to the Goldeberg vs Brock Lesnar feud. Had Goldberg never returned to WWE, no one knows how long Kevin was supposed to stay as the Universal Champion.
With the Prizefighter possibly turning face before his injury, the WWE could have him return to RAW and cut a savage promo on how lazy the current Universal Champion has been and would be asked by Stephanie McMahon to compete in multiple matches heading to WrestleMania in order to show his worthiness. Owens would win all the matches before Wrestlemania 35 and seal his position in the main event of the show.
Lesnar is most likely going to stay as the Champion until Wrestlemania 35, and Drew McIntyre is speculated to be his WrestleMania opponent. However, WWE could add Owens to this match as neither McIntyre nor Lesnar is a face and so having a babyface superstar in the mix would just raise the unpredictability of this match.
#4 Destroys Bobby Lashley and Lio Rush, sets up a WrestleMania match
Now, the reason why Kevin Owens has been written off TV is his knee surgeries, but in kayfabe, Bobby Lashley is the reason why Kevin Owens has to sit on the sidelines. Booking a feud between a heel duo of Lashley and Rush against the face Kevin Owens can help both the men have a good match at Wrestlemania.
Creative could also have Sami Zayn in Kevin Owens' corner to level the odds, but having Owens fight alone would generate more babyface sympathy for the Prizefighter. However, getting a big win at Wrestlemania would set the tone for Kevin Owens after his return.
The WWE could then directly insert him in the Universal Championship picture or could possibly have him feud with the Intercontinental Champion of RAW.
#3 Forms a tag team with Sami Zayn, wins the RAW Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 35
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn had formed a formidable team on SmackDown Live and RAW, but the team was never considered as a part of the tag team division. It is believed that being a part of the tag team division is a step back for any singles superstar.
But looking at the current state of the RAW tag team division, the two Canadians would be a welcome addition to the tag team division lying in shambles. Given the popularity of both the superstars, they could easily portray a face tag team and have mind-blowing feuds with the likes of The Revival or even the AOP to rejuvenate the RAW tag team division.
Winning the tag team titles from any RAW tag team could do wonders for the team of Owens and Zayn as they can possibly throw open challenges on RAW to save the division.
#2 Joins forces with the Miz and Sami Zayn to dominate the RAW roster
These are 3 superstars who are liked by the WWE Universe, 3 superstars who have the potential to become the next face of WWE, 3 superstars who show up every night, and most importantly, 3 superstars who have commendable mic and wrestling skills. The team of Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn and The Miz can take the WWE by storm.
With the Miz showing signs of turning face, he could be traded for Seth Rollins in the Superstar Shake-up after Shane McMahon would be fed up with him. The Miz could then join forces with Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, who would just return on that night to take over RAW. They can just destroy the heels of RAW to dominate the roster and perhaps can have a run just like the Shield.
#1 Returns on the RAW after WrestleMania, gets destroyed by Sami Zayn
Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are the best of the friends off TV and the duo was recently aligned together on TV as well. However, it seems like they were better off as rivals than being friends on TV. Now, Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn is a feud that has been done in the WWE, but the WWE Creative can repeat this feud by having Zayn as the heel this time.
Also Read - 5 Reasons why Sheamus should turn on Cesaro in the near future
Remember, Kevin Owens sort of turned face before being written off TV, while Sami Zayn was still a heel before he got injured. So, maybe this could be the key reason why WWE turned Owens face before sidelining him from the ring.
The Creative Team can easily pull off a storyline with Zayn getting jealous of Owens' success in the WWE and thus destroys him on his return to set up a feud.
