Kevin Owens returned to the WWE on Sunday, August 2. He'd been away from the ring for roughly seventeen months with a severe neck injury. Owens' return came as Nick Aldis tweaked Sami Zayn and Finn Balor's number one contenders match, making it a fatal four-way, with Gunther and Owens added to the card.
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The crowd clearly loved Owens' return. The 'pop' bellowed throughout the arena and through our television screens. Owens ultimately secured the win in the match, setting up a storyline with CM Punk, who currently holds the WWE Undisputed Championship.
However, it was Owens' comments after his win that have received the most attention. When speaking on WWE's post-show, the veteran talent broke an unwritten rule by discussing a wrestler outside of the WWE Universe, as he praised Tanea Brooks, who goes by the in-ring name of Rebel, and how her handling of a recent ALS diagnosis has been inspirational to him.
"There's somebody called Tanea Brooks, who's known to wrestling fans as Rebel," Owens said. "She has not wrestled here but some things are bigger than wrestling. She's currently battling ALS and the way she's doing it is so incredible, and I looked at her and what she was going through and the way she powered through it and it was truly inspirational."
Rebel, who has spent time with AEW, has been open about her ALS battle and the challenges that have come with it.
Rebel Responds to WWE's Kevin Owens
As you would expect, Owens comments went viral across every major social media platform. So, it's no surprise that Rebel herself has responded.
"Thank you, KO. I am proud of your return and you fighting through it to get there," Rebel wrote on X. "Never stop giving your everything because you are right, it can be taken away in a second."
Owens has previously wrestled on the independent scene, working with Ring Of Honor before making the jump to the WWE. Therefore, he has relationships with talents outside of the company, and while it may be frowned upon, Owens is right, some things are bigger than wrestling.
