'I Didn't Derail His Career': Kevin Owens Reveals WWE Storyline He Refused
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Kevin Owens has revealed he once rejected a significant WWE storyline pitch. The plan would have seen him introduce Damian Priest as his new best friend.
Owens discussed the situation on Cody Rhodes' podcast, What Do You Wanna Talk About? He explained why he refused to go along with the proposed angle.
WWE Pitched A New Alliance For Kevin Owens
The creative pitch came in late 2020 during the pandemic era. At the time, Owens was in a heated feud with the Universal Champion, Roman Reigns.
Speaking to Rhodes, Owens recalled how WWE officials approached him. They told him the plan was for him to get help against The Bloodline.
"They come tell me, 'Well, things are kind of changing now. You're going to be introducing your new best friend to help you take on The Bloodline, because it's the numbers game,'" Owens said (H/T to Inside The Ropes).
When he asked who the friend was, he was told it was Damian Priest from NXT. Owens immediately had reservations about the pairing.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Kevin Owens celebrates his victory over Cesaro at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City.
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 23: Kevin Owens celebrates his victory over Cesaro at the WWE SummerSlam 2015 at Barclays Center of Brooklyn on August 23, 2015 in New York City.More news: WWE News: Steve Austin Reveals Real-Life Vince McMahon Confrontation
Kevin Owens Explains His Refusal
Owens felt the alliance would not be believable to WWE fans. He cited the stark differences in their on-screen characters at the time.
"I go, 'Well, I have nothing against him but no one would believe that we're best friends. We cannot be more opposite, and why? It's so random,'" Owens explained.
He referred to Priest as "The archer... the guy who does the fake arrows?" He believed the pairing made no sense in the context of his intense feud with Reigns.
The pitch was made about three weeks before his Last Man Standing match with Reigns at the 2021 Royal Rumble. Owens was focused on that match and felt the storyline was firing on all cylinders without the addition.
Ultimately, Owens refused the pitch and the storyline never happened. He continued his feud with The Bloodline alone.
Owens' 2025 has been defined by his continued war with The Bloodline and a significant injury. He started the year allied with LA Knight, challenging Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga, which led to a violent street fight at the Backlash France event where The Bloodline was victorious.
Following this, Owens entered the King of the Ring tournament, advancing to the semi-finals before being defeated by the eventual winner, GUNTHER. After the tournament, it was revealed that Owens has been working through a legitimate knee injury. He is currently on hiatus from WWE television to recover from his injury.
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