WWE star Kevin Owens pulled from WrestleMania 41 with future unclear
He's being forced to step back for a heartbreaking reason.
WWE SmackDown superstar Kevin Owens has been forced to pull out of WrestleMania 41 with two weeks to go.
The card for this year’s extravaganza in Las Vegas, which will be the first to be streamed live on Netflix, is taking shape but KO’s match with Randy Orton has been scrapped.
Speaking on last night’s episode of SmackDown, former world champion Owens confirmed he has been dealing with a ‘pretty serious neck injury’ which will require surgery.
‘The reality is: For the last four months or so, I’ve been dealing with a pretty serious neck injury,’ the 40-year-old wrestler told the crowd.
‘We didn’t know what it was, we didn’t really know how serious it was. Thankfully this week, we managed to figure it out, and now I have to go get neck surgery.
‘So that’s what I’m going to do, and the timing couldn’t be worse, ’cause let me tell you, not getting to be in the ring with Randy Orton at WrestleMania really sucks.’
KO was due to face Randy Orton in two weeks (Picture: Heather McLaughlin/WWE via Getty Images)Owens – whose WrestleMania history includes a dream match with ‘Stone Cold’ Steve Austin – has also cast some doubt over his immediate in-ring future, as he admitted he isn’t sure how long he will be on the shelf for.
He added that he doesn’t know ‘when I’ll have the privilege to be in front of you guys again’.
Orton came out to pay respects to KO despite their bitter on-screen rivalry over the past few months, but Owens left the ring before they could exchange any words.
He seemed to have a tense altercation with a fan on his way out, although the cameras quickly cut away to Orton to avoid showing what was being said between them.
Back in the ring, SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis told the Viper he no longer has a match at WrestleMania, which led to him being dropped with an RKO.
Owens is one of WWE’s top superstars (Picture: WWE/C2A)Fans were left heartbroken by Owens’ announcement, with some viewers in tears and others wondering how long he has left as an active wrestler in light of the injury news.
‘I actually feel like crying. I love Kevin Owens. That man is a real wrassler. ????,’ wrote @TheKInspired on X, while @MoEatsCurry said: ‘Real tears shedding down my eyes man, Kevin Owens is genuinely hurt and he’s gonna need neck surgery.’
And @MindYouWill added: ‘Kevin Owens having to get surgery and possibly not wrestling again has me in tears????????????’
Now, it appears WWE could be pivoting to a match between Orton and Aldis, who started his career in his homeland of the UK and wrestled around the world, becoming world champion in TNA and the National Wrestling Alliance.
He hasn’t wrestled since October 2023, just before he began his on-screen SmackDown role, but has remained open to continuing his in-ring career.
WWE WrestleMania is streaming live on Netflix on April 19 and 20.
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