WWE fans are in shock tonight after Kevin Owens, one of the company’s toughest and most beloved stars, revealed he’s been battling a severe neck injury for months and now needs surgery—ruling him out of WrestleMania 41. The announcement came live on Friday Night SmackDown at the Allstate Arena, just two weeks before the biggest event of the year, scrapping his highly anticipated match with Randy Orton. With no return date set, the news has rocked the wrestling world and left everyone wondering what’s next for “The Prizefighter.”
Owens stepped into the ring without his usual fire, wearing a simple Bret Hart hoodie, and faced a quiet, worried crowd. “I’ve been doing this 25 years,” he said, his voice steady but heavy. “Every time I step in here, I give it everything. But that comes with a cost. For the last four months, I’ve been dealing with a serious neck injury. We figured it out this week—I need surgery.” He took a breath, then dropped the bombshell: “That means no WrestleMania. No Randy Orton. And I don’t know when I’ll be back.” The crowd gasped, then chanted “Thank you, Kevin” as he fought back emotion. “I’m sorry, guys,” he added. “I don’t take this for granted. I just don’t know when I’ll see you again.”
It was a raw, real moment—no storyline tricks, just a man facing a tough truth. SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis had introduced him with a somber tone, hinting at bad news, and Owens confirmed the worst.
The injury’s exact cause isn’t public yet, but it’s no secret Owens’ hard-hitting career has taken a toll. His last match—an unsanctioned slugfest against Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber on March 1—saw him take brutal bumps, including a crash through tables. Since then, he’s appeared on SmackDown but hasn’t wrestled, likely hiding the pain. Wrestling insiders, like Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer, call it “significant,” with surgery possibly involving spinal fusion—a fix that’s grounded stars like Edge for months or even ended careers.
Owens’ style—leaping off cages, slamming foes with piledrivers, crashing through ladders—makes this believable. Posts on social media from fans point to a ladder match against Cody Rhodes at Royal Rumble 2025 as a possible trigger, where he took a vicious Alabama Slam onto steel. Whatever the moment, it’s clear his neck couldn’t take more.
WrestleMania 41, set for April 19-20 in Las Vegas, was building to Owens vs. Orton—a grudge match fans craved. The feud kicked off last November at Crown Jewel, when Owens attacked Orton with a banned piledriver, sidelining “The Viper.” Orton returned at Elimination Chamber, saving Zayn and vowing payback. Their clash was locked in—until now.
After Owens left the ring, Aldis told Orton he had no opponent. Frustrated, Orton dropped Aldis with an RKO and stormed off, leaving WWE to scramble for a new plan.
Owens, 40, isn’t just a wrestler—he’s a survivor. Born Kevin Steen in Quebec, he’s been brawling since 2000, hitting WWE’s NXT in 2014 and winning its title fast. On the main roster since 2015, he’s snagged the Universal Championship, Intercontinental Championship (twice), U.S. Championship (three times), and Tag Team titles with Zayn in 2023. He’s faced legends like John Cena and Stone Cold Steve Austin, always leaving it all in the ring.
Surgery means time off—how much, nobody knows. Neck injuries can heal in six months or stretch to a year, depending on damage and rehab. Owens’ contract status adds uncertainty; some say it’s expiring soon, others claim he’s locked in for years. Either way, WWE’s backing him. “Kevin’s given us everything,” their statement read. “We’re with him all the way.”
Tonight, Zayn tweeted, “Get well, brother,” echoing the locker room’s support.
For WrestleMania, Orton’s path is unclear—maybe a new foe, maybe Aldis steps up. The show’s stacked anyway, with Cena vs. Rhodes and Reigns vs. Punk on tap. Fans, though, feel the void. Owens ended with hope: “I’ll be back. I don’t know when, but I will.”
For now, check WWE for updates, and send your best to a guy who’s earned every cheer. This isn’t goodbye—it’s see you later.