After 14 years of prominence on the independent circuit under his real name, Kevin Steen, with companies such as Ring of Honor (ROH) and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), Kevin Owens signed with WWE in August 2014 and, after more than half a year of shining on NXT , debuted on the main roster in May 2015.
Born on May 7, 1984 in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, in the Canadian province of Québec, and of French-Canadian and Irish descent, Kevin Steen learned English through Monday Night Raw broadcasts and, despite having played hockey in ice, football, and baseball, began considering becoming a professional wrestler at an early age.
When he was 14 years old, he received permission to start training at Serge Jodoin’s school, having officially debuted in the ring on his 16th birthday, May 7, 2000.
This was followed by stints with Canadian and North American promoters, having won the ROH and PWG world titles. Since joining WWE, he has won the NXT Championship (1), the Universal Championship (1), the Intercontinental Championship (2), and the United States Championship (3).
That’s why it’s worth remembering Kevin Owens’ ten best WWE matches, in chronological order.
Elimination Chamber 2015
John Cena vs. Kevin Owens
On the May 18, 2015 episode of Raw , NXT Champion Kevin Owens responded to United States Champion John Cena ‘s weekly United States Championship Open Challenge. However, instead of facing Cena , Owen attacked him and said that they would both fight under the conditions he defined. Later that night, Owens announced that the match between the two would take place at Elimination Chamber , with no titles at stake.
Money in the Bank 2015
John Cena vs. Kevin Owens
At Elimination Chamber 2015, Kevin Owens surprised everyone and everything, getting the better of John Cena after executing a second Pop-up Powerbomb. However, a rematch was scheduled for Money in the Bank.
Battleground 2015
WWE United States Championship: John Cena (c) vs. Kevin Owens
At Money in the Bank 2015, John Cena beat Kevin Owens in an Elimination Chamber rematch . Still, Owens challenged Cena to a match for the WWE United States Championship at Battleground during the June 15 episode of Raw . However, at The Beast in the East event, Owens lost the NXT Championship to Finn Bálor.
NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn (August 22, 2015)
Ladder Match for the NXT Championship:
Finn Balor (c) vs. Kevin Owens
At NXT TakeOver: Rival in February 2015, Kevin Owens beat Sami Zayn to become NXT Champion, while Finn Bálor won a tournament to become the main contender by defeating Adrian Neville in the finals . On the March 25 episode of NXT , Owens retained the title against Bálor, taking advantage of a leg injury to the Irishman.
However, Bálor gained another title shot at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable in May by beating Tyler Breeze . At The Beast in the East event on July 4, Bálor introduced himself as “The Demon” and defeated Kevin Owens to become NXT Champion .
However, it was announced during San Diego Comic-Con on July 9 that Bálor would defend the NXT Championship against Kevin Owens at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn . On the August 5 episode of NXT , Owens asked that the match between the two be a ladder match , fearing that NXT General Manager William Regal would cost him the title in a similar situation to the Montreal Screwjob.
Royal Rumble 2016
Last Man Standing match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship :
Dean Ambrose (c) vs. Kevin Owens
On the November 26 edition of SmackDown , Dean Ambrose defeated Tyler Breeze and Dolph Ziggler in a triple threat match to challenge Kevin Owens for the intercontinental title at TLC 2015 . In the PPV, Ambrose won the belt by countering a Pop Up Powerbomb with a Hurricanrana and subsequently delivering a winning roll-up .
The following night, Owens interfered in a match between Ambrose and Ziggler and attacked both, which led to a triple threat title match on the December 22 SuperSmackDown , which Ambrose eventually won. A title match between Ambrose and Owens followed on the January 7 SmackDown , which ended in a double count-out . The following week, Ambrose challenged Owens to a Last Man Standing match for the title at the Royal Rumble and received a positive response.
Extreme Rules 2016
WWE Intercontinental Championship :
The Miz (c) vs. Cesaro vs. Kevin Owens vs. Sami Zayn
At WrestleMania 32, Kevin Owens lost the intercontinental title to Zack Ryder in a ladder match that involved seven wrestlers, including Sami Zayn and The Miz .
On Raw the following night, The Miz won the belt after his wife, Maryse, distracted Ryder.
The following week, Owens interrupted Shane McMahon and demanded a title shot, but instead Shane scheduled a match between Owens and Cesaro to determine the leading contender, which Cesaro won.
At Payback, Owens beat Sami Zayn and stayed to comment on the intercontinental title match, but was attacked by Zayn. The fight between the two went to the ring, which distracted Cesaro, who when trying to throw Owens and Zayn out of the ring ended up suffering the settlement of The Miz. Then the four men got into a fight that ended with Owens lifting his belt .
On the following night’s Raw , Owens and Cesaro clashed again in a match to determine the new main contender, but the match ended in a No Contest after The Miz , who was on the commentary table, attacked Cesaro. Meanwhile Zayn appeared on the scene and another fight ensued between the four, which ended with Zayn holding the belt. Three days later, on the May 5 episode of SmackDown , The Miz faced Sami Zayn and was defeated after interference from Kevin Owens. Then Cesaro joined the party and, after another fight between the four of them, lifted his belt.
That said, on the May 9 episode of Raw , Shane and Stephanie McMahon scheduled a triple threat match for Extreme Rules between Owens, Miz , and Cesaro. However, Zayn demanded to be included in the match and, after beating The Miz once more, was added, turning the feud into a fatal four way match.
Battleground 2016
Sami Zayn vs. Kevin Owens
Former tag teammates but also rivals in Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Ring of Honor, Sami Zayn (known on the independent circuit as El Generico) and Kevin Owens maintained a love/hate relationship in WWE. In December 2014, at NXT Takeover: R Evolution, Sami Zayn won the NXT Championship from Neville. After the match, Kevin Owens appeared to congratulate his friend, but then ended up attacking him.
At NXT Takeover: Rival, Owens defeated Zayn to win the NXT Championship . Months later, at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, Owens injured Zayn in a title match that ended in a no contest . More than May year later, at the 2016 Royal Rumble, Sami Zayn returned to the ring following the injury sustained at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, having eliminated Kevin Owens from the Royal Rumble match . On the March 7, 2016 episode of Raw , Zayn debuted on the main roster and featured in a feud with Owens.
Weeks later, at WrestleMania 32, Zayn cost Owens the loss of the Intercontinental Championship in a ladder match that was eventually won by Zack Ryder . On Raw the following night, Owens attacked Zayn, leaving him unable to participate in a Fatal four-way match to determine the main contender for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship .
However, Owens and Zayn finally faced each other on the WWE main roster at Payback, with Owens prevailing after performing a Pop Up Powerbomb . At Money in the Bank, both Owens and Zayn participated in the Money in the Bank Ladder match, but the winner was Dean Ambrose . On the June 20 episode of Raw , Zayn defeated Owens and challenged him a week later to a new match, this time at the Battleground pay-per-view.
Royal Rumble 2017
WWE Universal Championship
Kevin Owens (c) vs. Roman Reigns
At Roadblock: End of the Line in December 2016, Kevin Owens retained the universal title against then United States Champion Roman Reigns after Chris Jericho attacked Owens with a Codebreaker and caused him to be disqualified . After the match, Jericho , defeated by Rollins that night, revealed that this attack was part of a strategy for Owens to win and retain the belt. In retaliation, Reigns and Rollins delivered Double Powerbombs to Jericho and Owens at the commentator tables.
On the following night’s edition of Monday Night Raw , Owens and Jericho celebrated Owens’ victory, but General Manager Mick Foley appeared and announced that Roman Reigns would have a new shot at the Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble , with Jericho suspended above the ring on the inside. from the cage.
Two weeks later, Reigns defended the United States title in a handicap match against Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho , with the latter defeating Reigns and claiming the belt. Y2 J had his first title defense on Raw before the Royal Rumble and was eventually disqualified against Reigns , after Owens interfered. Owens and Jericho tried to put Reigns in a cage, but Reigns fought back and locked Owens in the cage and raised him above the ring, then delivered a Superman Punch and a Spear on him. Jericho .
TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs 2020
TLC match for the WWE Universal Championship :
Roman Reigns (c) vs. Kevin Owens
Since returning to the ring and winning the WWE Universal Championship at Payback 2020 , Roman Reigns has begun to proclaim himself as the “ Tribal Chief ” and “ Head of The Table ” of the Anoa’i family.
However, Jey Uso joined his cousin Roman Reigns after the latter defeated him in Hell in a Cell . In the months that followed, Jey and Kevin Owens had a falling out as members of Team SmackDown at Survivor Series , in a match in which Team Raw eventually won .
On the SmackDown episode following Survivor Series , Reigns criticized Jey Uso for the loss and stated that the other members of Team Smackdown did not respect Reigns or his family. That same night, an enraged Jey Uso intentionally disqualified himself in a match against Kevin Owens by attacking the opponent with a chair. However, Owens retaliated by executing several Stunners on Jey and then calling Reigns .
The following week, Kevin Owens challenged Reigns to a Tables, Ladders and Chairs match for the WWE Universal Championship at the TLC pay-per-view and the champion accepted.
Monday Night Raw (October 25, 2021)
Ladder match to determine the top contender for the WWE Championship :
Seth Rollins vs. Finn Balor vs. Kevin Owens vs. Rey Mysterio
At the beginning of the October 25, 2021 episode of Raw , Seth Rollins interrupted a promo for champion Big E to challenge him to a match for the WWE Championship . Meanwhile, Rey Mysterio, Finn Bálor and Kevin Owens also took to the ring to claim a title shot . That said, authority figure Sonya Deville appeared on stage and announced that Rollins, Mysterio, Bálor and Owens would face off that same night in a Fatal 4-Way Ladder Match to determine the main contender for the WWE Championship .