5 Reasons Kevin Owens Should Defeat Seth Rollins at WWE Clash of Champions 2016
Why Kevin Owens should defeat Seth Rollins at WWE Clash of Champions.
On Sunday, September 19th, Kevin Owens defends his WWE Universal championship. It hasn’t been easy for Owens; while many have wanted him to achieve success, he has had his share of critics and criticism. Owens’ win appeared to be as much of a pleasant surprise to him as it was to those watching. Throughout his time in the promotion, Owens has continuously worked to put on the best possible matches, facing anyone and everyone on the roster, whether it was turning heads in his first match against John Cena, or facing Dean Ambrose in countless battles. For many fans, his battles against Sami Zayn have been epics where they have hit each other with everything, and done so in such grand fashion.
So what was next for Owens to prove?
The next logical step was to be considered a legitimate contender for a major championship.
Owens has been billed as a prizefighter, someone that was motivated to succeed because of what was at stake for him. The payoff was huge, and he knew it. It would be easy to question a possible win over Rollins on September 19th, but we believe that there are reasons why an Owens win is the only one that makes sense. Owens continues to believe he’s better than Seth, and on September 19th, he will do what he has to in order to ensure that it happens.
Here are 5 reasons why Kevin Owens should defeat Seth Rollins for the WWE Universal championship.
WWE.com
5. “He Deserves It”
It was a chant from fans in attendance as soon as he was victorious over Rollins, Reigns, and Big Cass. It was clear that the fans knew that the former NXT and Intercontinental champion was due to be elevated. While Owens has had multiple matches to qualify for a title match, this was the one where he wasn’t a bridesmaid; he was the one walking out the champion.
While the commentators gave him his due and certainly had no problem focusing on his past, it was what he did during the match that shows the company has faith in keeping the title on him moving forward. There could have been a growing sense of frustration that he wouldn’t achieve his goal of becoming a world champion. After years of paying his dues, while carving a career for himself and becoming successful in promotions such as Pro Wrestling Guerrilla and Ring of Honor, his time to be at the head of the line is now.
WWE.com
4. Has Had to Compete Nearly His Entire Career While Injured
There is always risk in wrestling, but in the case of Kevin Owens he’s had to fight injury almost before his career even got started. Owens has been actively competing since the age of sixteen, and during this time he has sustained an insane amount of punishment, but in one area, in particular, he deals with chronic pain. In the earlier part of his career, he injured his knee, and while most injuries will heal with time, Owens has had to compete with chronic pain and problems with it ever since.
Despite having surgery on the knee several times, he still suffers pain. In fact, the injury was written into a storyline during his time in Ring of Honor, to the point many thought that he had his final match when he lost in a tag team match. He hugged his partner at the time, but followed it up by hitting him low and turning heel in the process. Owens has had to work with this injury and never allowed it to prevent him from succeeding. He is a true champion by continuing to work through the pain today.
Source: WWE.com
3. Has Had to Overcome Obstacles and Criticism That He Won’t Succeed
For as many fans as Owens has, there have certainly been many detractors, people who believed he wouldn’t achieve very much. One of those people were former WWE manager and former Ring of Honor on-air talent and backstage booker Jim Cornette. During their time together in ROH, there were issues over Owens’ contract, which was said to have ended because of budgetary concerns. Owens has stated that his poor relationship with Cornette, the lead booker at the time, was what led to this contract dispute. Even though he was pushed by current NXT producer Adam Pearce, Cornette elevated others above him.
Owens has even said that ROH President Cary Silkin was unaware of his contract status because of Jim Cornette. Despite losing weight, Owens was held off of ROH television for nearly half a year while enduring an uphill battle with Cornette. With Owens retaining his title against Rollins, it will help silence critics that doubt his ability, worth, and desire to succeed.
WWE.com
2. Doesn’t Fit the Typical WWE Champion Mold
When we discuss the ‘every man’ in today’s society, they are regular guys that put their pants on one leg at a time. Kevin Owens doesn’t appear to be the fittest, most well put together wrestler on the roster. He is someone whose story is that of a person that worked as hard as he possibly could to reach his dreams (not unlike others on the roster,) which is all anyone really wants in their own life. Many want to see the guy that doesn’t look like a champion, doesn’t dress like a champion, and doesn’t appear to relate to corporate structure within a company.
Much like Dusty Rhodes once said in his ‘hard times’ promo, his belly is just a little bit big, and his hiney is just a little bit big, but he’s bad and people know he’s bad. After years on the independent scene, and rising quickly up the ranks of the NXT and WWE roster, Kevin Owens is on top. It is everything that is right and just, simply because we (despite what he says during his promos) can relate.
WWE.com
1. It Shows Continued Commitment to the New Era
While the WWE could have given the title to either Roman Reigns or Seth Rollins, they went in a different direction. Despite what some may think, Kevin Owens reflects a ‘new era’. He just like Finn Balor, are among the most recent NXT alumni, and represent a level of competition and excitement that wasn’t necessarily seen before them. As all WWE fans will recall, Seth Rollins never lost the World title after having to relinquish it because of injury. After he captured it after defeating Roman Reigns, only to lose it moments later to Dean Ambrose, it is clear now that there was no intention of having the title remain on him when they were going to introduce a new title on the Raw brand only a month or so later.
We all saw Finn Balor defeat Rollins to capture the WWE Universal title, though unfortunately the next night he had to subsequently relinquish the title. They could have had Reigns or Rollins walk away as the champ, but they didn’t. This demonstrates the company’s dedication to ensure it is moving in a different direction, and that the Kevin Owens show was going to be the only show in town!
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