After months of being sidelined, an update has emerged on the status of Kevin Owens, who is now expected to undergo neck surgery in mid-July. According to a report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, if the procedure goes as planned, the earliest possible return for Owens would be SummerSlam 2026.
The situation escalated in June when Owens began experiencing severe symptoms, including numbness in his arms and issues with his legs, stemming from a serious spinal cord injury. The severity of the condition was starkly outlined by Owens himself on Cody Rhodes’ podcast, where he revealed that doctors had warned him about the risk of paralysis or worse if he continued to wrestle without addressing the issue. WWE has reportedly connected him with top spinal surgeons for the procedure.
This surgery is the culmination of a brutal start to 2025 for Owens. He competed in grueling matches at the Royal Rumble against Cody Rhodes and in an Unsanctioned Match victory over Sami Zayn at Elimination Chamber on March 1. The physical toll of these bouts ultimately forced the cancellation of his advertised high-profile match against Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41.
Owens has not been seen on WWE programming since his injury was announced on the April 4 episode of SmackDown. His last match against Zayn was the blowoff to a storyline that saw Owens turn heel, attacking both Rhodes and Orton while also stealing the classic Winged Eagle WWE Championship belt.
Despite his extended absence and the serious nature of his recovery, Owens has remained engaged with the wrestling community. He continues to be active on social media, recently reacting to major news involving another WWE star who was declared medically unfit to compete.