Add as a preferred source on Google Kevin Owens opened up about one of the most successful stretches of his WWE career, admitting he was unable to enjoy his time as champion.
Between 2015 and 2018, Owens captured the Intercontinental Championship, the United States Championship, and the Universal Championship, becoming one of the top names on WWE’s weekly programming.
Speaking with CBS Sports and SHAK Wrestling’s Shakiel Mahjouri, Owens said his obsession with always chasing something bigger kept him from enjoying the moment.
“I was Intercontinental Champion, United States Champion, Universal Champion, and I was never happy. Never. I always wanted to do more.”
Kevin Owens explains why he was “never happy” during his reign as WWE Universal champion:
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“It’s natural to want to be on WrestleMania in the biggest way possible and winning titles. It’s still an accolade that’s incredibly flattering. Incredibly deserving and rewarding. I think… pic.twitter.com/HcvRMTEl6R
Owens explained that as soon as he finished a match, he was already thinking about what he would do the following week. According to him, WWE often did not even have that answer ready, which only added to his anxiety.
The former champion also pointed to his double knee surgery in 2018 as a turning point. Owens spent around five months away and said that time at home helped him see his career differently.
Owens’ reign as Universal Champion lasted 188 days, beginning on August 29, 2016, and ending on March 5, 2017, when he was defeated by Goldberg at Fastlane.
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Owens is currently still away from the ring after undergoing neck surgery in July 2025. His last match took place at Elimination Chamber that year against Sami Zayn.