In his Money in the Bank match against Kofi Kingston, Kevin Owens once again showed that he is the company’s best heel and possibly one of its best wrestlers.
Kevin Owens is the best heel in WWE. Say it with me now: Kevin Owens is the best heel in WWE. The proof is there in every match this man wrestles and every program he is involved in.
Think back to the work he did with Chris Jericho, which was arguably the best storyline in the lead-up to WrestleMania 33, featuring the Festival of Friendship and an underrated WrestleMania match. Then, there was his consistent work with Sami Zayn, first as a foe in NXT and then their masterful duo run on the main roster. The match between the two of them at Battleground 2016 was a prime example of in-ring storytelling. Even their best friends program with the Yep! Movement was fantastic.
When Kevin Owens is allowed to be this Prizefighter – strong headed bull persona – he is at his best. KO knows he’s the best: he is vicious, he is confident, and he introduces a subtle element of desperation due to him wanting the prize that he believes he rightly deserves. In a promotion that forgets about wins and losses, he treats each match as one he needs to win.
Before Money in the Bank, it’s common knowledge that he replaced Daniel Bryan’s spot of challenging Kofi Kingston. Word spread about whether KO is worth the heavyweight championship. I’m tired of people not considering Owens as a main eventer. Watching his match with Kofi at Money in the Bank, it was just another reminder of how talented this man is at his craft.
Give this man some respect.
So, why is he the best heel right now? Well, let’s look at some characteristics of what makes a great heel: effective promo work, the ability to work a matches well, and solid ring psychology (a factor that most people forget about). All of these characteristics can help a heel garner heat and be the perfect foil to whoever they are facing.
Here’s how KO checks all these boxes:
Promo Work
Kevin Owen’s promo skills have been phenomenal since before joining WWE, but his work can be seen since his time in NXT. In 2015, his last appearance in Full Sail before going to Takeover Brooklyn, he stopped himself mid-promo due to fans chanting “Brooklyn Sucks.” He proceeded for two minutes to call out the crowd for how they are hypocrites for cheering “Fight Owens Fight” until he fights someone like Sami Zayn. With his feud with John Cena at that point, he calls the crowd “the John Cena of fans” because they will cheer NXT as a brand but boo the fact that the Black and Gold brand expanded and grew with a PPV in New York.
And that’s just the beginning of it. Look at any of his feuds since 2015, you will find a plethora of great, hard hitting promo work against the likes of Sami Zayn, Ryback, John Cena, Chris Jericho, Goldberg and Kofi Kingston.
A factor that helps diversify his promo skills is his ability to speak French, which he has implemented seamlessly into numerous promos. He’s done it as heel multiple times, and even as a face recently during the Superstar Shake-Up when WWE was in Montreal.
This confidence on the mic has obviously translated into this interview segments where he will do things insult the interviewer and belittle his interviewees. Kevin Owens has given amazing interviews laying on his back! Check out some of the backstage interviews on WWE.com exclusive videos from 2015; it’s fantastic. Regardless of where or when he has a mic in his hand, he is almost guaranteed to deliver gold.
Effectively Working a Match
This can mean a few things: a great, adaptive moveset; or athletic and physical ability. A great heel can do both of these plus more.
Kevin Owens is a wrestler that has constantly improved and expanded his moveset. In addition to his vicious Pop-Up Powerbomb, he has a wide range of technical wrestling moves, striking moves, and aerial moves. He also presents and executes moves to make them seem like impactful strikes and maneuvers (credit given to his opponents as well). His superkick is arguably one of the best currently; his use of the cannonball attack into the turnbuckle is phenomenal; and even a simple senton is delivered with malice. Plus, now he adopted the Stunner as his finisher. The Stone Cold fan in me is screaming at how great it is to see this move again.
The diverse moveset also lends to his athletic and physical ability. When we were first introduced to him, it was tough to not acknowledge his physique, which is not the traditional WWE body type. Yet, his conditioning and execution is remarkable. Look at his repeated use of the frog splash, or the occasional moonsault. Not only that, but this man can sells any move. Look how he takes a lariat from Kofi at Money in the Bank. Some of the best selling I’ve seen since Dolph Ziggler.
These two abilities allow him to control the pace of a match. Not only does he have a variety of moves to match the wave of momentum as the match progresses, but he can execute them to perfection and is able to keep up with his competitor or slow the pacing down to let his opponent or the crowd catch up. This leads me to . . .
Ring Psychology
I will say with all the confidence in the world that no one in the WWE has better ring psychology than Kevin Owens. This man can work the crowd and his opponent during a match and keep viewers engaged by implementing character work in the match narrative. After regaining offense in a match, he will turn to the audience and say something like “And that’s why I’m the best!” or he will tell them to shut up if they are cheering his opponent or booing him. Another example is his constant use of trash talking during a match. During the previously mentioned Battleground match in 2016, towards the climatic finish, there is a moment where Zayn is barely able to stand on his knees, and Owens continuously slaps him. In between each slap, he says “Stay down,” “Why won’t you stay down?,” “Don’t make me do this, stay down.” He does such a brilliant job of incorporating character work in his matches and using it to control the crowd and his opponents.
This isn’t just between bells either; his use of psychology starts from before the bell and goes throughout.
Let’s look at multiple examples from his Money in the Bank match with Kofi:
- He comes down to the ring angry and focused. He is screaming and yelling at the audience, followed up by him yelling at the Titantron “Come on, bring your a– out here,” speaking directly to Kofi, whose music hasn’t even hit yet. This is a bull seeing red.
- Once Kofi comes down, Owens’ immediately in Kofi’s face, getting the Champion to be emotional.
- During the match, he throws Kofi to the ground after an Irish Whip and turns to the audience. He yells “Who’s got something to say?”
- The constant mocking of the New Day clap.
- Challenging the ref after a clear one count saying it was a count of three. This is protecting his character’s ego, touching on the subtle desperation.
- Screaming after doing the frog splash off the apron to the outside. He is amped up and motivated. He doesn’t need the crowd support. He is thriving in spite of it.
- The increased use of the Boston Crab to capitalize off the repeated attacks on Kofi’s back.
- After a two count, his use of the “you should of stayed down” with subsequent slaps.
- Telling the crowd “shut up” to Kofi and “stop clapping” in their attempts to will Kofi.
- Rolling out of the ring after getting hit with “Trouble in Paradise” to protect the move and showcase ring awareness.
- And the best one, taking off Kofi’s shoes and throwing them in the crowd. This is great because of Kofi’s finisher being the “Trouble in Paradise” kick, and his logical is Kofi being barefoot will help with the impact. Genius.
I loved this match and it was my personal favorite one of the night. Though this seems to be the end of the feud, I would love to see these two continue fighting, which could be continued with Kevin Owen’s obsession with the title. He came out for this match like a man possessed and it could be easily played up that he is not finish and will not give up until the Prizefighter has his prize.