WWE will not re-sign Kevin Owens

There’s an interesting debate brewing about the future of one, Kevin Owens. News recently broke that the famed WWE performer has not signed a new contract with the company, and that his deal is set to expire at some point in December. Free agency was one of the major news stories in 2024, and it looks to continue that way if Kevin Owens becomes a free agent next year. The big question is whether WWE should make a big push to re-sign him and the answer is currently “no.”

Kevin Owens is a fantastic wrestler and sports entertainer. He’s easily among the best in the industry today. That’s long been the case. There’s a reason why he was a fan favorite well before signing with the WWE in 2015. His track record both before and since then cemented him as one of the best of this generation. There’s no denying that thought.

But where does WWE see him in the pecking order of its roster? That’s the big question that comes to mind when thinking about whether the company should work to retain his skills. Even as great as Owens is and has been for the company, he’s not someone that WWE is prepared to put at the top of either SmackDown or Monday Night Raw. He’s always been a step below the upper echelon of the roster, and that’s more an indication of where WWE sees him rather than a report on his abilities.

Owens can do anything that any other person in wrestling can do. Can he tell a great story within the ring? Yes. Does he have the ability to cut a fantastic promo? Yes. Can he do everything from comedy to being a sadistic heel? The answer is also yes. There isn’t anything that Owens can’t do with professional wrestling and sports entertainment. Still, that hasn’t stopped WWE from relegating him to a level below individuals like Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Drew McIntyre, and CM Punk. As individuals like Bron Breakker and Gunther push their way into the main event, it’s hard to see WWE placing Owens over them. In fact, they’ll probably use his star power to elevate them along the way. Being in that position may make it harder for Owens when it comes to demanding a contract that he desires. This makes it much more likely that WWE will allow him to walk if negotiations don’t completely go the way they’d like.

Kevin Owens is currently in the main event picture, heading to WWE Bash in Berlin to take on Cody Rhodes. Rhodes is the big favorite in the match and is expected to walk out with the championship. That will be another moment in which Owens would fail to capture the championship. Should fans read into that as his contract nears its end? Perhaps. But only time will tell if WWE makes a hard play to keep Owens on the roster.