Kevin Owens WWE Plans After SummerSlam In-Ring Return

WWE

At WWE SummerSlam 2026 Sunday, Kevin Owens made his in-ring return to the company for the first time in 17 months.

Following his return, there are a multitude of possibilities for Owens coming back to a WWE that looks much different than it did in early 2025.

The company could have any number of plans and ideas for ‘The Prizefighter’ to highlight him following his well received return at SummerSlam.

Here are six Kevin Owens WWE plans after his SummerSlam in-ring return.

6. First Time Ever Meeting With CM Punk For The Undisputed WWE Championship

In his first time back in the squared circle in well over a year, Kevin Owens defeated Sami Zayn, GUNTHER and Finn Balor to become the new number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship at SummerSlam 2026.

This sets the stage for a tantalizing first time ever matchup for Owens against the current Undisputed WWE Champion CM Punk.

‘The Best In The World’ is coming off a win over Cody Rhodes on night one of ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer,’ so he would be coming into this one with some confidence and momentum.

Considering their history on and off camera over the years on the independent scene and WWE, a showdown between Punk and Owens has the potential to be one of the most heated title bouts the company will have this year.

5. Reconciling With Cody Rhodes

Prior to his neck fusion surgery, Kevin Owens was involved in an intense rivalry with Cody Rhodes over the Undisputed WWE Championship.

During the course of this feud, Rhodes and Owens faced off in a brutal ladder match at WWE Royal Rumble 2025 that many fans speculate could have been one of the many sources of KO’s neck issues.

Over their months-long rivalry, Owens made things extremely personal by attacking his former friend outside of his road bus with his family and dropping Rhodes on his neck with a package piledriver.

With all of this bad history after years of friendship, Owens could reform himself as a babyface and reconcile with Rhodes, who might not be as receptive as he would once be thanks to KO’s betrayal leading to several others after him.

4. Partnership With Finn Balor

During the SummerSlam post-show, Kevin Owens appeared to discuss his victory to become number one contender for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

In this interview, Owens brought up his relationship outside of the ring with one of his opponents, Finn Balor.

The two men have long been friends stemming from their time together in WWE NXT when first signing with the promotion.

Bringing Owens and Balor in a pairing could bring some much needed attention to the WWE tag team division in a major way moving forward.

3. Starting His Own Faction

Speaking of pairings, Kevin Owens could need some backup following his return to in-ring competition.

WWE has been filled with several notable factions that have dominated Raw and SmackDown over the past few years.

Whether it be The Bloodline, The Judgment Day or The Vision, it feels like the best way to find success and become a prominent star in WWE right now is by being in a stable.

Being someone who knows all too well how it is to be on the other side of these groups, Owens might surround himself with like-minded individuals who want to fight for championship gold and money just like him.

2. Finally Getting A Win Over GUNTHER

Back in 2023, GUNTHER and Kevin Owens found themselves across the ring from one another for the first time.

In this first time meeting, ‘The Ring General’ walked away with a victory, but they have also battled in multi-man action as well.

Owens is someone with a long memory and would think that there is some unfinished business there with the self proclaimed ‘Career Killer.’

After being present at John Cena’s Final Match and having his own career-threatening neck surgery, Owens facing GUNTHER has a little more meaning now than it did when they last went one-on-one three years ago.

1. Rekindling Rivalry With Sami Zayn

There might not be another rivalry as storied and as complicated in WWE today than Kevin Owens vs Sami Zayn.

The two stars have been linked to one another’s pro wrestling careers from the start on the Quebec independent scene to Ring of Honor and PWG to WWE.

Over the years, fans have seen Owens and Zayn at each other’s throats at times and the best of friends at other points.

With his current mindset and his reaction to Owens’ return at WWE SummerSlam 2026, it would make sense if Zayn has a bone to pick with his best friend coming off the heels of ‘The Biggest Party of the Summer.’

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