Kevin Owens has been out of action for the majority of 2025. He’s remained on the sidelines due to a serious neck injury. During a question-and-answer session at the Coke Zero 400 by NASCAR, Owens provided a small update on his status and a potential return to the ring.
“Yeah, I needed neck fusion,” Owens said while answering a question from Scotte Sprinkle. “It was very stressful going into it because we weren’t really sure how severe the fusion was going to be, how many levels, all this stuff. Thankfully, it ended up being only one level, which is the best-case scenario for something like this. The surgery was successful; I had a great doctor. The thing is now we have to see how the bones fuse and there’s no guarantee that it’s going to work. It’s how my body heals, some guys had success, some guys didn’t. Fighters crossed I get to come back to wrestling in the next year, really don’t know though. My goal is to come back so hopefully that happens.”
The injury bug has run rampant in professional wrestling these last few months. Will Ospreay was recently written off AEW television and is reportedly out indefinitely due to a serious neck issue of his own. Swerve Strickland is also on the mend, recovering from surgery to have a torn MCL repaired. Over in WWE, names like Liv Morgan and Ilja Dragunov are both out as well, with expectations that they will be back at some point in 2026.
As injuries pile up, the door opens for new stars to step into the spotlight
Injuries are a part of professional wrestling. An unfortunate one part that can take a toll on a person’s career and their life. As with all forms of professional sports and entertainment, injuries open the door for the “next man up.”
With both Swerve and Ospreay out, and stars like Omega, Okada, and Ibushi not in their primes, fans are wondering who will get the opportunity to step into the void. Names like Brody King, Kyle Fletcher, and Kevin Knight jump off the page.
The story is a bit different in WWE, where age continues to be a problem, especially in the men’s division. Kevin Owens is 41 years old. Even though he’s a fan favorite and one of the best performers in the business, it is important to recognize that his performative prime is behind him, and this neck injury will only further that situation. WWE isn’t as proactive in building up younger talent. Outside of Bron Breakker, it is hard to find a name on the men’s roster who seems “up next” for the main event scene like Owens has been for most of his main roster run. This is one of the biggest challenges facing the company today.
Kevin Owens is a beloved figure in professional wrestling, both for what he does in the ring and how he carries himself out of it. Daily DDT wishes for his speedy recovery from the injury and surgery.