Kevin Owens injury update: Is former NXT champion coming back to WWE? Here's what happened

Kevin Owens' appearance comes more than a year after the former world champion suffered a serious neck and spinal cord injury in January 2025.

Updated on: Jun 28, 2026, 02:20:08 IST

By Ojas Jaiswal

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Kevin Owens is returning to the NXT spotlight at the brand's upcoming event on Sunday, June 28.

Kevin Owens has returned to the NXT spotlight at the brand's latest event. (Twitter)

Owens set to feature as special guest

During this week's episode of NXT, WWE had announced that Busted Open Radio will host a Great American Bash watch party outside the WWE Performance Center on Sunday, with David LaGreca welcoming Owens as a special guest.

The appearance will come more than a year after the former world champion suffered a serious neck and spinal cord injury in January 2025.

Not returning from injury

While the 42-year-old is making his way back to NXT, fans should not interpret the appearance as an indication of an in-ring return. Owens will participate in the event as a guest rather than compete or get involved in any physical altercation.

Owen's career highlight

Owens has enjoyed a highly successful WWE career, capturing multiple championships, including the Universal, United States, Intercontinental, and Tag Team titles.

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He has also headlined WrestleMania twice, facing "Stone Cold" Steve Austin at WrestleMania 38 and teaming with Sami Zayn to defeat The Usos for the WWE Tag Team Championships at WrestleMania 39.

Owens' return timeline uncertain

Kevin Owens has been sidelined since before WrestleMania 41 after suffering a significant neck injury that ultimately required surgery.

The former champion has remained out of in-ring competition while continuing his recovery, and WWE has yet to provide a timeline for when he might be cleared to return to action.

Despite being unable to wrestle, Owens has stayed involved with the company in various capacities, including serving as a coach on WWE's LFG series.

NXT Great American Bash broadcast, venue and card details

This Sunday's NXT Great American Bash will mark the event's first-ever live broadcast on The CW Network.

The card is set to feature Tony D'Angelo defending the NXT Championship against Naraku, Lola Vice challenging Kendal Grey for the NXT Women's Championship, and Zaria facing Tatum Paxley in a rematch for the NXT Women's North American Championship, among several other matches.

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The show will emanate from the WWE Performance Center in Orlando and will go head-to-head with AEW's Forbidden Door pay-per-view, which is also scheduled for Sunday.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ojas Jaiswal
Ojas Jaiswal is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times, currently working with the US Desk, where he covers a wide spectrum of American sports and global news developments. From high-intensity NFL moments on the field to the latest off-court NBA storylines, he specializes in delivering engaging, audience-driven stories that blend factual accuracy with compelling narratives. A graduate in Journalism and Mass Communication from Bennett University, Ojas brings over two years of experience in digital journalism. Before joining Hindustan Times, he worked with EssentiallySports, a leading digital sports media platform catering to American sports audiences, where he contributed across multiple editorial and engagement-focused roles. He also interned with Times Network at the Sports Desk, producing articles and video content across diverse sports, ranging from Formula 1 to football. Known for his commitment to factual and accurate reporting, Ojas was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Editing during his college years. Beyond sports journalism, he closely follows international affairs and global developments, while also exploring documentaries from different cultures and regions around the world. A lifelong football enthusiast, Ojas has admired Lionel Messi since childhood and continues to draw inspiration from the football icon’s journey and legacy.Read More

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