AJ Styles Says He Saw WWE Star Training For His Return At The Performance Center: ‘I Was Like ‘Something Must Be Going On”

WWE

WWE Hall of Famer AJ Styles has commented on Kevin Owens’ in-ring return, noting that he actually saw him training for his comeback at SummerSlam.

The August 2 SummerSlam show saw Kevin Owens return to the ring, defeating GUNTHER, Finn Balor and Sami Zayn in the Undisputed WWE Championship #1 contender’s four-way.

While Kevin Owens’ return wasn’t announced ahead of time, AJ Styles has revealed that he suspected that the former Universal Champion would be returning soon after seeing him at the Performance Center.

Noting on The AJ Styles Show that he’s super happy for Owens, Styles said:

“Well, I knew something was gonna happen because I’d seen a sweaty Kevin Owens at the Performance Center. I didn’t say anything, but I was like ‘Oh!’ When I saw him, ‘something must be going on.’

“I’m super happy for him that he had the opportunity to get back in the ring and do what he does best. The neck issue, I’m sure is always going to be an issue, but he’s got it under control and is ready to freaking kill it.”

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AJ Styles is currently filling in as a temporary Performance Center coach.

Commenting on Owens going for a dive to the outside within the first few minutes of the match, Styles added:

“I love guys like that. They go ‘Listen, if I’m gonna break it or have a problem with it, we’re gonna find out.’ One gear, dude. Those are my kind of people.”

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This SummerSlam match marked Kevin Owens’ first in-ring outing since the March 2025 Elimination Chamber premium live event, where he defeated Sami Zayn in an unsanctioned match.

Owens had been out of action for 17 months due to a neck injury which required surgery and forced him to be pulled from WrestleMania 41, where he was originally slated to face Randy Orton.

Randy Orton also made his WWE return at SummerSlam, attacking Cody Rhodes during Rhodes’ Undisputed WWE Championship match against CM Punk.

The champion has since told Rhodes – both at a live event and on SmackDown – that he can have a title rematch any time he wants.

A title program with Kevin Owens appears to be coming first though, with the #1 contender confronting Punk in the ring on the August 7 SmackDown episode.

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• wwe
• KEVIN OWENS
• Return
• AJ Styles

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