Kevin Owens is back, and SummerSlam just went completely off the rails.
After Nick Aldis already stunned the crowd by adding GUNTHER to the match between Sami Zayn and Finn Bálor, the SmackDown General Manager revealed he was not finished. Once GUNTHER entered the ring, Aldis announced that another participant was joining the fight.
Then Kevin Owens’ music hit. The crowd in Minneapolis exploded as Owens walked out and made his WWE return after a lengthy absence caused by a neck injury. Owens had not wrestled since March 2025 and had been forced to miss two straight WrestleManias while recovering.
His return had been getting closer in recent weeks. Owens was spotted in Minneapolis during SummerSlam weekend and had also been training at the WWE Performance Center, but WWE gave no indication that he would be thrown directly into one of the biggest matches on SummerSlam Sunday.
What started as Sami Zayn against Finn Bálor quickly became complete chaos. Aldis first added GUNTHER, then dropped an even bigger surprise by bringing Owens back and turning the match into a four-way showdown.
The moment also confirmed that Owens is ready to step back into the ring after the longest absence of his WWE career. There was no slow return or backstage appearance. Owens came straight back into the WWE Championship picture against three of the toughest names on the roster.
Kevin Owens had been expected to return to SmackDown when he was cleared, but nobody expected his comeback to happen like this. Aldis turned one match into a massive SummerSlam fight, and Owens received one of the loudest reactions of the night.
What did you think about Kevin Owens making his WWE return in the middle of the SummerSlam match? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
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