Positive update on Kevin Owens' neck injury amid WWE absence

By Abhijit Singh

Abhijit has been telling sports stories through his words at Khel Now since 2024. He covers Pro wrestling, MMA, Boxing & Formula 1.

Published at :July 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM

Modified at :July 20, 2025 at 12:37 PM

(Courtesy : WWE)

Kevin Owens has been out of action due to a neck injury!

Ahead of WrestleMania 41, on the April 4 edition of SmackDown, it was revealed that Kevin Owens is dealing with a neck injury that requires surgery. The announcement meant that Owens had to pull out of the scheduled match at the ‘Grandest Stage’.

Owens was set to battle Randy Orton, and the two stars were locked in a furious feud. Since his absence, fans have been waiting for an update on his injury, which has now been revealed courtesy of Fightful Select.

Say it ain't so…@FightOwensFight has to back out of #WrestleMania due to a neck injury.#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/Drtth3KW2B
— WWE (@WWE) April 5, 2025

The Prizefighter underwent successful neck surgery

Kevin Owens WWE SmackDown — ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS – APRIL 4: Kevin Owens speaks during SmackDown at Allstate Arena on April 4, 2025, in Rosemont, Illinois. (Photo by Eric Johnson/WWE via Getty Images)

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, Kevin Owens underwent successful neck surgery on Friday (June 18) to repair the issues that forced him out of action ahead of WrestleMania 41. The surgery marks a major milestone in the former Universal Champion’s recovery from his spinal cord injury.

Although Owens is now recovering, he’s still likely to be out of action for an extended period, and there’s no certainty he’ll be able to return to WWE. In this case, nothing is guaranteed.

“Those that we spoke to in WWE at the time of Owens’ injury expected him to miss both WrestleMania 41 and 42, One source said that one year is the likely minimum for an injury of this kind, but the reality is that they’re going to see how Kevin Owens heels and what he’s comfortable with as time progresses.” Ross Sapp said in his report.

Kevin Owens has successfully undergone surgery on his neck!#WWE pic.twitter.com/YSvCiLb7gh
— KN Wrestling (@knwrestling) July 20, 2025

Randy Orton ended up battling Joe Hendry

Despite Owens pulling out of the match, Orton was determined to compete in his 20th WrestleMania and issued an open challenge, which the then-TNA World Champion Joe Hendry answered.

The two fan favorite stars put on a good show for fans, and in the end, Orton landed the devastating RKO to pin the then-TNA World Champion.

Why is Kevin Owens absent from WWE programming?

Owens is out of action due to a neck injury, which forced him to pull out of the scheduled match with Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41.

Did Kevin Owens have surgery?

Yes. Owens underwent successful neck surgery on July 18, 2025, to address the injury.

When will Kevin Owens return to WWE?

There’s currently no confirmed timeline for his return, though more clarity is expected as his recovery progresses.

Khel Now wishes Kevin Owens a full and speedy recovery and hopes to see him back in the squared circle soon.

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Abhijit Singh

Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.