Kevin Owens’ WWE Comeback Hits Another Roadblock as New Injury Details Emerge
Kevin Owens’ long-awaited WWE return may not be as close as fans hoped. A fresh update on his injury recovery suggests the former Universal Champion still has major hurdles to clear before stepping back into the ring.
Owens has been sidelined since April 2025, and while early optimism surrounded his rehab, the injury turned out to be more serious than initially believed. Although he was seen training at the WWE Performance Center in November, that progress doesn’t necessarily mean he’s cleared for in-ring action.
According to Fightful Select, Owens didn’t undergo neck surgery until July 2025, significantly pushing back his recovery timeline. Because of that delay, WWE officials reportedly haven’t discussed any creative plans or potential storylines for his return. At this stage, everything appears to be on hold until Owens is fully healed and medically cleared.
With the 2026 Royal Rumble approaching, speculation has been running wild about surprise returns. However, sources indicate Owens is not expected to be part of the event. Training footage may have raised hopes, but being in shape and being cleared to compete are two very different things—especially with a neck injury involved. WWE is known to take a cautious approach in such cases, often waiting until a superstar is 100 percent cleared before locking in any creative direction.
Adding another twist, there’s growing chatter about Chris Jericho potentially returning to WWE sometime in mid-2026—possibly before Owens makes his own comeback. If that happens, fans dreaming of a Jeri-KO reunion may have to wait even longer.
For now, Kevin Owens’ WWE future remains uncertain, and patience appears to be the only option as his recovery continues behind the scenes.
