Kevin Owens will carry added motivation into his match against CM Punk on this Friday’s WWE SmackDown (August 21). The challenger revealed that his family, including both of his parents, will be in attendance at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto for the Undisputed WWE Championship match.
In an interview with FACES Magazine, Owens explained that the opportunity to have his family together was one of the reasons he chose Toronto for his title shot. His mother has been dealing with health issues for several years and can no longer fly to events, but the drive from Montreal to Toronto is still manageable.
The moment carries deep personal significance. During his 17-month absence due to a serious neck injury, Owens was unsure whether his parents would ever see him compete again. Now, they’ll have a chance to be there for a potential world championship win. When Owens captured the WWE Universal Championship on August 29, 2016, his wife, kids, and parents all watched on television rather than being in the arena.
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1:23 AM · Aug 15, 2026Toronto also holds special meaning in Owens’ recent history. His last match before the lengthy absence took place in the city on March 1, 2025, when he defeated Sami Zayn in a brutal Unsanctioned Match at Elimination Chamber.
Owens returned at SummerSlam on August 2 and immediately won a Fatal 4-Way Match over Gunther, Finn Bálor, and Sami Zayn to become the number one contender for CM Punk’s title.
Despite a personal history that stretches back roughly two decades, Punk and Owens have never officially faced each other in a match.