Kevin Owens' WrestleMania 42 Status in Jeopardy After Neck Surgery — Comeback or Curtain Call?
Kevin Owens, one of WWE’s most beloved brawlers, has officially undergone neck surgery — and while he's now on the mend, fans might have to wait much longer than expected to see him back in action.
Owens revealed back in April, during a heartfelt promo on SmackDown, that he’d been silently battling serious neck issues leading up to his scheduled WrestleMania 41 match with Randy Orton. Rather than risking permanent damage, the former Universal Champion made the tough call to step away from the ring and confirmed surgery was necessary.
For months, rumors swirled about whether he had already gone under the knife — but now it’s official. According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, Owens successfully underwent neck surgery on July 18, marking the beginning of a long and uncertain recovery road.
📆 WrestleMania 42 Return? Not So Fast.
WWE sources say recovery from this kind of procedure can take a full year, putting Owens’ return timeline dangerously close — and possibly past — WrestleMania 42 in April 2026.
That said, every recovery is different, and WWE will reportedly monitor Owens’ condition closely through the start of the new year. Optimists are holding out hope, but even Owens himself previously admitted on Cody Rhodes’ “What Do You Wanna Talk About?” podcast that although he felt fine, his spinal cord simply wasn’t healthy enough to risk it. Doctors had advised that natural healing was required before surgery to give him a shot at long-term in-ring clearance.
🎤 MainEvent.News | Backstage Take
Kevin Owens isn’t just another superstar sidelined — he’s a glue guy for WWE’s storytelling and locker room energy. If WrestleMania 42 comes and goes without a KO pop, it’ll leave a noticeable gap. That said, WWE is wisely prioritizing his long-term health over a temporary pop. A rested, fully recovered Kevin Owens comeback could be one of the most emotional returns in years — and WWE knows how to milk that kind of moment. Expect his return to be epic when the time comes.
