Add as a preferred source on Google Kevin Owens returned to the ring as one of the biggest surprises of WWE SummerSlam and, less than 24 hours later, called GUNTHER the best wrestler in the world today.
Nick Aldis added Owens to the No. 1 contender’s match, which was originally set as a singles match between Sami Zayn and Finn Bálor. Aldis added GUNTHER first, then sent out Owens last to make it a Fatal 4-Way. It was Owens’ first match since the Unsanctioned Match against Zayn on March 1, 2025.
Speaking on WWE Now, Owens talked about what it meant to share the ring with two of his closest friends and GUNTHER.
“Obviously I couldn’t ask for three better guys to be in the ring with at a return like this. Both from an emotional, sentimental standpoint with Finn and Sami being my brothers.
“And GUNTHER, we’re not as close in any way shape or form but we have a very strong mutual respect as professional wrestlers. I have no problem saying that he’s the best wrestler in the world at this point. So to be in the ring with those guys? It’s just incredible.
“And we’re cut from the same cloth, we got here the same way, we grinded as hard as we could to get here, we all had similar paths to get here. There’s a lot of respect for that, to have that around me as I go out and do it again was just fantastic.”
Owens and GUNTHER last met on the June 5, 2023 episode of Raw, with The Ring General picking up the win. They were also on opposite sides of matches involving Zayn and Imperium around that time.
At SummerSlam, Owens won in 8:30 after hitting Zayn with a Stunner, earning a future shot at CM Punk’s Undisputed WWE Championship.