Finn Bálor Reacts To Kevin Owens’ WWE Return At SummerSlam
Finn Bálor discusses Kevin Owens’ WWE SummerSlam return.
At SummerSlam Sunday, Kevin Owens made his return after being sidelined for nearly a year and a half with a serious neck injury. His surprising comeback saw him be a surprise addition to the night’s opening match, and Finn Bálor, who was one of the men in the ring alongside GUNTHER and Sami Zayn when Owens’ music hit, has now talked about how the crowd’s reaction briefly pulled him out of the moment and allowed him to enjoy the occasion as a fan.
During a recent appearance with Nina Drama on Kick at a recent Zuffa event, the former Judgment Day member reflected on Owens’ return and explained why the moment was meaningful to him.
“Kevin Owens is one of my oldest friends in the business. He had a very, very serious neck injury. He was out for almost a year and a half, I believe. So just the fact that he was able to return to the ring made me very happy for him as a person. He returned at SummerSlam as a surprise. I was standing in the ring and when I heard the pop that the crowd made when his music hit, it was absolutely incredible. It kind of took me out of the moment where I could become a fan again and just stand there and watch the live audience react to Kevin Owens’ entrance. So I was very happy to be there.”
-Finn Bálor
Owens underwent neck fusion surgery in July 2025, with the procedure leaving his future in the ring uncertain. While the former champion remained hopeful that he would eventually return to wrestling, during a media appearance NASCAR’s Coke Zero Sugar 400, he revealed that although the surgery was successful, his return wasn’t guaranteed. His surprised return at SummerSlam marked his first in-ring appearance in over 17 months, following his last in-ring match in March 2025.
Bálor and Sami Zayn were originally scheduled to compete in a singles match for the opportunity to face the winner of the Undisputed WWE Championship match between CM Punk and Cody Rhodes later that night. However, freshly reinstated SmackDown General Manger Nick Aldis announced before the match that both GUNTHER and Kevin Owens would also be added, setting up for an explosive four-way match. Owens would defeat all three men to become the number one contender and was later announced as the opponent to challenge Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship on August 21 during Friday Night SmackDown in Toronto.
While the wrestling world was offering Owens congratulations on his comeback, the star took time on the SummerSlam post-show to give a special mention to Tanea Brooks as she continues her battle with ALS. You can read more about that here.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the Kevin Owens recent return as soon as we hear more.
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