Kevin Owens was backstage at WWE Backlash in Tampa on Saturday, according to PWInsider, marking a continued involvement with the company despite being sidelined from in-ring competition since his neck surgery last July.
Owens has been working behind the scenes on the WWE LFG project during his recovery and his Backlash presence reflects that ongoing connection to the business. He also delivered news that Canadian WWE fans have been waiting to hear, announcing a three-show return to Canada in August through a video posted to his X account.
“Hello, my name is Kevin Owens. You may know me from several wrestling matches I’ve had in the last 26 years or so. Not so much in the last year. I haven’t wrestled then. I had neck surgery. It was a whole thing.”
He then laid out the full tour schedule.
“WWE is coming back to Canada in August. Thursday, August 20th, London, Ontario, at the Canada Life Place. The next night, Friday, August 21st in Toronto, SmackDown. Friday night SmackDown. That’s going to be big. Scotia Bank Arena. And then Monday, August 24th. It’s Raw in Ottawa at the Canadian Tire Center.”
Owens also leaned into the timing of the announcement, noting it coincided with his birthday and the 26th anniversary of his first wrestling match.
“Think of it as like a birthday present from me to you, even though it’s my birthday. And also, I won’t be paying for the tickets. But, you know, in spirit. It’s a nice gesture. Go buy the tickets, go to the shows, have a blast. And I really miss you guys. And I mean that 100%.”
Tickets went on sale last week. No timeline for Owens’ return to in-ring competition has been announced.
Kevin Owens is channeling his energy into helping the next generation while he continues his recovery from neck surgery, taking on a coaching role for Season 3 of WWE LFG on A&E alongside Nattie.
The season premieres Sunday, April 26 at 10 p.m. Eastern on A&E, with Owens and Nattie replacing The Undertaker and Mickie James from previous seasons. A preview clip released ahead of the debut showed Owens opening up about how difficult the extended time away from competition has been.
“I’ve been wrestling for 25 years. Ultimately, for me, I just want to help the next generation,” Owens said. “And also, I don’t really know what I’d do with myself if it didn’t. This is just all I’ve done since I was 15. This is what I love, this is what I’ve always loved.”
At the time of filming, Owens was roughly eight to nine months removed from neck surgery performed in July 2025. He was candid about the mental toll the absence has taken.
“Right now, I’ve been off for 8-9 months because of my neck surgery. I’m losing my mind. Like, I just want to be around it,” he said.
Owens’ last match took place against Sami Zayn at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025, making it more than a year since he has competed. WWE has not announced a return timeline.
Kevin Owens will not appear at WWE World during WrestleMania 42 weekend in Las Vegas. WWE officially canceled The Prizefighter’s scheduled autograph and photo op sessions, notifying fans via email this week.
Owens was originally announced for the fan event in March. The cancellation comes as the former WWE Universal Champion has been absent from WWE programming since April 2025 following neck surgery. His scheduled match with Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 was called off due to the injury.
WWE sent an email to fans who purchased autograph or photo op sessions with Owens. The message stated: “Dear fan, Kevin Owens is no longer able to make it to WWE World at WrestleMania 42. Unfortunately, this means your photo op or autograph has been canceled.”
The company did not provide a specific reason for the cancellation in the email. Owens has not commented publicly on his absence from the WrestleMania 42 weekend event.
Owens on Independent Wrestling Scene
During a July 2025 appearance on Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast, Owens discussed the current state of independent wrestling. The former Universal Champion admitted he doesn’t follow the independent scene as closely as he once did.
“It almost feels like there is no independent scene anymore. I know there is, I just don’t know enough about it because it’s just not what it used to be,” Owens said on the podcast. “A lot of it is because independent talents in the last few years have been signed. I’m not saying there are no independent standouts, I just don’t know them.”
Owens acknowledged his limited time to follow wrestling outside WWE has contributed to his lack of familiarity with current independent talent. He noted the landscape has changed significantly in recent years as promotions have signed many standout independent wrestlers.
Former WWE Universal Champion Kevin Owens has surfaced on social media with a cryptic message that has the WWE Universe buzzing with speculation about his potential involvement in the heated feud between Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
On X, ‘The Prizefighter’ posted footage of himself playing with a Cody Rhodes action figure while Rhodes’ theme song played in the background. The timing of this post has fans connecting dots to recent storyline developments.
For the past few weeks on WWE SmackDown, Randy Orton has been receiving instructions from a mysterious caller whose identity remains unknown. Before his injury-related hiatus, KO was engaged in a rivalry with Orton, though the two share a well-documented friendship outside the ring.
Before being sidelined, Owens served as a central figure in storylines involving both Rhodes and Orton. His cryptic social media activity comes at a crucial time as WWE builds toward major storylines heading into WrestleMania season.
Owens’ Current Status
While Owens has appeared in WWE’s YouTube content during his time away, he has not returned to a full-time television schedule. The Canadian wrestler has avoided making official announcements about his return timeline, leaving fans to speculate based on his social media activity.
If Owens is indeed the voice on the other end of Orton’s phone calls, it would position Cody Rhodes for a significant challenge as WWE continues building toward WrestleMania 42. The potential reunion of Owens and Orton, despite their previous on-screen rivalry, adds another layer of intrigue to an already complex storyline.
WWE has not officially confirmed Owens’ return date or storyline involvement, but his recent social media activity suggests major developments may be coming soon.
WWE legend Stone Cold Steve Austin recently addressed Kevin Owens’ neck injury during an appearance on The Takedown on SIthis week, calling him a Hall of Fame-level talent and revealing he personally reached out to Owens after learning about the injury.
“I called Kevin a couple of months ago,” Austin said. “He’s got a great doctor. I care about the guy, love the guy. He’s a Hall of Fame talent.”
Austin also shared a story about a chance encounter with Owens roughly 25 years ago at an airport, when he spotted the then-young wrestler and offered him a piece of advice that proved prescient.
“I remember meeting him in the airport 20, 25 years ago — I’d seen him work — and I told him, ‘Hey kid, you don’t need to worry about all those fancy moves. You need to learn how to talk,’” Austin said. “And of course he did, and he’s great.”
Dealing With Injuries
Austin, who had his own career derailed by a serious neck injury, drew on personal experience when reflecting on Owens’ situation.
“It’s a rough business. No matter what style you work, you’re going to take a bump. Even the most simple bump can be the devastating one — it’s the straw that broke the camel’s back,” he said.
Austin also spoke candidly about the psychological toll of being sidelined, something he experienced firsthand when a neck fusion forced him to step away from in-ring competition.
“When I got my neck fused, I had to stop watching for a while,” he said.
“You’re frustrated, you want to get back out there, everybody else is thriving. You want the business to be great, but there is that selfish part — that competitive part of you. It’s like, ‘I should be out there and I ain’t.’”
Owens announced in April last year that he would be stepping away from the ring due to a neck injury. There is currently no public timeline for his return to WWE programming.
Amid rumors and speculations on which surprise names fans can expect at the Royal Rumble PPV from Saudi Arabia, atleast two WWE names have been confirmed to not be making the trip.
Michin took to social media on Thursday morning to announce that she will be hosting a Royal Rumble watch party this Saturday at a Dave & Buster\’s in Orlando, Florida.
What\’s more, the former Mia Yim noted that fellow WWE star Kevin Owens will be joining her for this event, confirming that neither of them are travelling to the Middle Eastern country for the latest PLE:
WWE Watch Party at Dave & Busters on International (Orlando) this Saturday with @FightOwensFight and I this Saturday for #RoyalRumble come through!
Michin suffered an injury during the WWE post-Christmas Holiday tour last month. She had been wrestling Women\’s Champion Jade Cargill before being pulled off the road.
Kevin Owens announced back in April 2025 that he would be stepping away from the ring due to a neck injury. Joe Hendry replaced him in his scheduled WrestleMania 41 match against Randy Orton, and Owens has been out of action ever since.
There is no word on the potential timetable of return for either of these stars, but the announcement confirms that they won\’t be a part of the Royal Rumble PPV this Saturday.
It\’s Friday, January 23, 2026 and here\’s your wrestling news update covering the biggest stories from WWE, AEW, TNA, and the world of professional wrestling.
Powerhouse Hobbs Officially Signs With WWE
The speculation is over—Powerhouse Hobbs is officially WWE-bound. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select confirmed Thursday that the former TNT Champion has signed a contract with WWE following the expiration of his AEW deal last week.
As previously reported, WWE had expressed interest in Hobbs for some time, and the company has reportedly already planned a new name and image for the powerhouse. The 32-year-old spent four years with AEW, where he established himself as one of the promotion\’s most physically imposing talents.
Hobbs\’ signing comes amid WWE\’s continued efforts to bolster its roster with established talent. His combination of size, athleticism, and presence makes him a natural fit for WWE\’s style, and fans should expect him to make an impact once he debuts.
Jim Ross Reveals Scary Fall Left Him on Floor for Hours
WWE Hall of Famer and current AEW announcer Jim Ross has provided an update on his health following a frightening incident at his home that prevented him from attending last week\’s Dynamite taping in Orlando.
Speaking on the latest episode of \”Grilling JR,\” the 74-year-old legendary commentator revealed the severity of the fall that kept him down. Ross disclosed that he was on the floor for approximately five hours before he could get help, but says he \”got lucky\” and avoided serious injury.
JR\’s return to AEW programming has been postponed as he continues to recover. The beloved announcer has faced numerous health challenges in recent years but has remained a fixture in professional wrestling broadcasting.
Trey Miguel Returns to TNA After AEW Release
Trey Miguel is officially back in TNA Wrestling, making a surprise return on Thursday\’s live episode of iMPACT just days after being released by AEW. Miguel entered the Feast or Fired match as an unannounced participant, securing one of the briefcases in the signature TNA stipulation bout.
Miguel\’s return comes after a whirlwind week. The Rascalz member had signed with AEW but parted ways with the company before ever appearing on television. Fightful Select reported that TNA had conversations with Miguel about a potential return just hours before Thursday\’s show.
\”If this is the fired briefcase, I\’ll be so pissed,\” Miguel joked after the match, referencing the stipulation where three briefcases contain title opportunities while one results in termination. The briefcase contents will be revealed on next week\’s iMPACT.
The System Undergoes Major Faction Overhaul in TNA
TNA\’s long-running faction The System underwent a shocking transformation during Thursday\’s iMPACT, with Cedric Alexander and Bear Bronson officially joining the group—only for the faction to immediately turn on two of its founding members.
After JDC announced the new additions, The System attacked both JDC and Moose, kicking them out of the group in a stunning heel turn. The betrayal came just weeks after JDC\’s retirement match against Eddie Edwards at TNA Genesis.
The revamped System now positions itself as a major heel faction heading into the AMC era of TNA programming.
Bishop Dyer Reveals Tony Khan\’s Reaction to AEW Debut
Speaking on Busted Open\’s \”Off the Ropes\” podcast, Dyer opened up about the opportunity, explaining how the booking materialized and sharing Khan\’s positive feedback after the match. Dyer competed in an eight-man tag before Wednesday\’s Dynamite in Orlando, teaming with Martin Stone and Better Together against Billy Gunn and his team.
"There's nothing in this world that feels like that, when you get that kind of reaction."
While it remains unclear if this was a one-time appearance or a potential ongoing relationship, Dyer has been working for MLW since his WWE release in November 2024.
Quick Hits
Marissa McMahon Scores Oscar Nomination: Shane McMahon\’s wife received a Best Picture nomination at the 98th Academy Awards announced Thursday. Dwayne \”The Rock\” Johnson missed out on a Best Actor nomination for his work in \”The Smashing Machine.\”
Will Ospreay Backstage at Dynamite: The absent AEW star was spotted backstage at this week\’s Dynamite, having not competed since Forbidden Door in August. His presence has sparked speculation about an imminent return.
Saraya Posts Training Footage: The former AEW star shared new training footage on her Instagram stories, fueling speculation about a potential in-ring return. Saraya hasn\’t competed since October 2024 and departed AEW in March 2025.
Ash By Elegance Out of Retirement: Former WWE star Dana Brooke, now Ash By Elegance in TNA, ended her brief in-ring retirement during Thursday\’s iMPACT, getting physical in a segment and confirming \”she\’s back\” in a backstage interview.
Chris Jericho Addresses Ageism: The 55-year-old veteran spoke about reinvention and ageism in wrestling, saying it\’s \”not a death sentence\” amid continued speculation about a potential WWE return ahead of Royal Rumble.
SmackDown Tonight: WWE SmackDown airs from Montreal featuring Nathan Frazer vs. Johnny Gargano and a WWE Tag Team Championship match.
Stay tuned to SEScoops for continuing coverage of these stories.
Kevin Owens and Natalya have been cast as mentors in the third season of WWE LFG, replacing The Undertaker and Michelle McCool, according to Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite.
WWE LFG (often reported as \”Legends & Future Greats\”) is a reality competition series built around Performance Center prospects competing for WWE and NXT opportunities while being mentored by established names. The show airs on A&E and functions as a hybrid wrestling school docuseries and elimination-based competition.
Filming for season 3 began this week in Orlando, Florida, with shooting taking place at the WWE Performance Center. Some LFG-related matches are being taped before weekly NXT TV, meaning footage is being integrated around the existing NXT schedule.
Reports describe a \”refreshed format\” and a more competitive season following tweaks made after the first two runs. The core concept remains prospects working through challenges and matches under veteran guidance.
Developmental names like Kam Hendrix (formerly Anthony Luke) are among those involved, signaling the show will again spotlight Performance Center regulars looking to transition to NXT television.
WWE LFG has already fed talent into NXT, with past standouts like Jasper Troy and Shiloh Hill moving from the show into more prominent roles. Season 3 is positioned as the most stacked yet, offering an early look at who WWE views as the next wave out of Orlando heading into 2026. John Cena recently praised Natalya\’s autobiography, calling it a must-read.
