Kevin Owens turns 36 today, and we at Daily DDT pass on our heartfelt birthday wishes to WWE’s Prizefighter.
The former Universal Champion worked his way through the WWE system and moved from the black and gold brand to the main stage in 2015. He worked with some of the best in the business even before the 6-feet Superstar arrived in the WWE.
While we all love and hate a Superstar based on their character, it isn’t hard to say that the Superstar knows how to speak his mind and perform in between those ropes.
The moves by him set him apart from other wrestlers in the business and with Stone Cold Steve Austin’s Stunner as his new finishing move, the Superstar has catapulted to new heights of stardom. Fans love him every time he hits it on another Superstar, and one can only wait to see how he turns this thing around in a jiffy.
We have seen his journey as Kevin Owens in the WWE ever since he walked down the ramp at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution to congratulate his friend from the independent circuit and new NXT Champion Sami Zayn only to turn on him in a matter of moments. The two have been friends for years now, and their friendship and hatred on-screen has served the perfect way to sell tickets and shows.
On his birthday, let’s take a trip down his career and revisit some amazing matches:
Tyler Black vs Kevin Steen (Kevin Owens): Salvation 2010
Kevin Owens used to fight under the ring name Kevin Steen, while The Monday Night Messiah used to fight under the ring name Tyler Black during their time at Ring of Honor.
The video above is of a match that the two fought, and if you have a memory of any one of Kurt Angle and Steve Cold Steve Austin’s bloody matches, you can be sure that this was a match that wasn’t for the weak-hearted.
The two gave the fans something to remember, and it was one of the most revered matches in the company’s history.
Kevin Steen vs Shinsuke Nakamura – War of the Worlds 2014
Shinsuke Nakamura is called The King of Strong Style for a reason, and the Superstar didn’t miss a beat while going toe to toe with The Prizefighter Kevin Steen. The two in-ring generals commanded each other, and the ropes which made the match entertaining and full of moves that words cannot fathom.
It was an experience like no other because they opened up a clinic between the ropes giving the fans the right entertainment. The match had no limitations, but they didn’t require any blood during this match because the in-ring skills showcased by the two amazing superstars were enough to keep the fans entertained.
While we do know that the two are on different brands in the WWE right now, the two had no brand warfare back during their time at Ring of Honor. The fans loved their match, and one can not argue that this is one of the best technical matches in ROH.
Kevin Owens vs. AJ Styles
Kevin Owens didn’t get everything handed to him on a silver platter. The Canadian Superstar had to fight his way through things to make a name for himself in the independent circuit. The fact that this video dates back to the May 8, 2005 is good enough to tell you that this wrestling icon has been fighting at any place to make a name for himself.
This time around, he was in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, where he took on The Phenomenal AJ Styles.
A young Kevin Steen was never shy to show off his skills and take down his opponent. AJ Styles made his WWE debut during the 2016 Royal Rumble match and his opponent arrived in WWE a year prior. Kevin did go through the developmental process, but The Phenomenal One skipped the line and was a part of the main roster instantly after making his presence felt in the WWE.
Kevin Owens vs Samoa Joe
We have seen them fight between the ropes in the WWE, but a lot of wrestling fans may not be aware that the two also fought back in the day when they were in the independent circuit. They fought tooth and nail during the 2nd of July, 2004 show in the independents and gave the fans a moment to remember.
Samoa Joe is currently involved in a commentator role, and it would be amazing to see how he returns to the show. The two have fought in the past in WWE, and it would be amazing to see how they perform this time around. The storytelling experience has seen a rise in the WWE since the coronavirus pandemic impacted the wrestling world and the world in general.
This pandemic has served the company in attempting new ways of storytelling, camera angles, and even trying new ideas to present matches. It would be nice to see these two utilize this opportunity in the best possible manner.
Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn/El Generico – Fight Without Honor
If you were to see how two wrestlers can re-ignite their rivalry and provide the fans the entertainment they deserve, then you can always look up to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn. The two fought amazing matches during their time in Ring of Honor and continued it when they entered the NXT circuit.
Sami Zayn dropped the mask during his transition from ROH to WWE, but he didn’t miss a beat when it came to fighting his best friend in real life and nemesis on camera, Kevin Owens. They had some of the best matches at NXT and continued it on the main roster until The Underdog from the Underground decided to turn heel and help his friend.
The character change came as a breath of fresh air for the WWE Universe, who had lost interest in the former NXT Champion. We would have to wait and see if they ever step against each other in the company again.