• Kevin Owens Suffers Sudden Setback Weeks Before Major Neck Surgery
Kevin Owens has confirmed that he’ll be undergoing neck surgery in mid-July, and revealed a worrying development regarding his condition. Speaking on Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast, Owens opened up about the physical toll of his recent absence from the ring — and the uncertainty surrounding his spinal health. “I don’t know, man. It’s been a frustrating process,” Owens admitted. “We’re letting my spinal cord heal as much as it can on its own before we go in for the surgery, because how extensive the surgery will be depends on how my spinal cord looks when we go in there.”
The 2-time WrestleMania main eventer hasn’t competed in nearly four months, and while things had been stable for a while, that suddenly changed. “So, everything took a turn, and it’s been 3 months since my last match. It’s been almost 4 months. We’re waiting till mid-July to do the surgery. Hopefully, it’s a normal neck fusion. It might not be. We don’t know.”
Despite initially feeling no pain or symptoms, Owens said the situation shifted abruptly. “Since then, I’ve felt fine. My neck’s been fine. I’m not in pain. I have no symptoms of what you would expect somebody with a spinal cord injury to have. But in the last week, for some reason, the symptoms all came in one shot.”
As of now, Owens and his medical team are hoping for a straightforward neck fusion, though the final approach will depend on what surgeons find once the procedure begins.
• Another RAW Star Set To Undergo Surgery
As previously noted, Bodyslam reported that Chad Gable is dealing with an undisclosed injury, which appears to be serious enough that WWE adjusted its creative plans. The injury is the reason for the angle involving Penta on this week’s episode of RAW. In a backstage segment, Chad said he’s glad Bron Breakker destroyed Penta. Penta then superkicked Gable and snapped his arm backwards. This was booked to write Gable off TV.
In an update from PWInsider, Gable will undergo surgery in early July. Gable will be out of action for a while now, and the same goes for El Grande Americano. It was recently reported that another RAW star needs surgery – Liv Morgan.
Also Read: Update On Liv Morgan’s Replacement As One Half Of The WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions
• WWE Bans Wrestlers From Discussing Middle East Conflict
WWE is pushing forward with Night of Champions 2025 in Saudi Arabia, despite heightened uncertainty in the Middle East. A ceasefire between Israel and Iran was announced Monday by Donald Trump after nearly two weeks of conflict. However, the truce is already under strain, with fresh reports of military action surfacing just hours after the deal was made public. According to the Wrestling Observer, WWE talent and staff are set to begin traveling to Saudi Arabia today. The company has reportedly banned its performers from addressing the Middle East conflict publicly, choosing to avoid any controversy during the build-up to their PLE.
Although some argue that the situation on the ground may not be immediately dangerous, travel to the region was still seen as risky, especially before the ceasefire was confirmed. Despite this, Saudi authorities have continued preparations, and WWE is moving ahead with its plans.
During the SummerSlam Kickoff press conference at Fanatics Fest, WWE Champion John Cena told fans to not miss this upcoming premium live event, as something special is planned:
“If you’re enjoying what we’re doing on TV right now, then you have to watch Night of Champions – it’s going to be effing great. If you liked SmackDown, I promise you’ll like the next one even more. We’re cooking up something special. Don’t miss it.”
Below is the final card for Night of Champions:
– Undisputed WWE Championship: John Cena (c) vs. CM Punk
– King Of The Ring Tournament Final: Randy Orton vs. Cody Rhodes
– Queen Of The Ring Tournament Final: Asuka vs. Jade Cargill
– United States Championship: Jacob Fatu (c) vs. Solo Sikoa
– Street Fight: Rhea Ripley vs. WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Raquel Rodriguez
– Sami Zayn vs. Karrion Kross
This Friday’s SmackDown before Night of Champions will also take place in Saudi Arabia. Below are the advertised matches:
– Last Woman Standing Match For The WWE Women’s Championship: Tiffany Stratton (c) vs. Nia Jax
– Women’s United States Championship: Zelina Vega (c) vs. Giulia
– WWE Tag Team Championship: The Street Profits (c) vs. Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy)
Also Read: Pat McAfee Reveals Why He’s Absent From WWE, Reacts To Fans Saying He’s Not Missed
