SummerSlam: Kevin Owens thought WWE career was over until 'a few weeks ago' — 'I definitely did not make peace with it'

After 17 months away, Kevin Owens made a stunning return to the ring Sunday at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 in U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Along with Gunther, Owens was announced as a surprise entrant into the Undisputed WWE title No. 1 contender match between Sami Zayn and Finn Balor, which Owens then won by pinning Zayn.

Owens, 42, was last seen before WrestleMania 41 when he was lined up to take on Randy Orton. His momentum hit an abrupt halt when he suffered a bad neck injury that required surgery, bringing Owens’ career into question. On the WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 2 Post-Show, the former Universal Champion discussed his road back to the ring.

“It was a rough road, honestly. It really was. But none of that matters now because I’m here,” Owens said.

“There was a moment where I thought it wasn’t going to happen, and I definitely did not make peace with it. I was not ready. Getting this taken away from you when you’re not ready is hard. But I had such a great group around me to support me through it. My wife, my kids, my parents, my friends, the WWE medical staff. Even you [retired wrestler Big E], I would talk to you a lot. But I was never OK with it.”

Battling back from injuries is nothing new in Owens’ career. This one, however, was scarier than the rest.

It wasn’t until a matter of weeks ago that Owens even found himself cleared to compete, he revealed.

“Honestly, up until a month ago, I thought this may be it,” Owens said.

“We kept doing scans. It kept not showing exactly what we were hoping for, as far as the healing process from the surgery. Then I was like, well, I don’t know. Maybe it’s just not going to happen.

“A few weeks ago, we did a scan, and they were like, ‘We finally saw what we needed to see. You can get back in the ring.’ And from there, here I am.”

With Owens’ big return win, he’s now the next challenger in line for a shot at CM Punk, who successfully defended his title against Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam 2026 Night 1.

Coincidentally, the aforementioned Orton also played a part in the outcome of Punk vs. Rhodes, nailing Rhodes with a match-deciding RKO in a surprise return of his own.