Kevin Owens copying AEW star's bold strategy after WWE Saturday Night's Main Event? Chances of the twist explored
AEW and WWE had a big weekend to wrap the halfway point of the final month of the year. Tony Khan's company presented the last of its Winter is Coming specials, while WWE presented the return of Saturday Night's Main Event. SNME marked a turning point for Kevin Owens, who is now rumored for a major angle once done by a familiar face in AEW.
The Prizefighter is currently in possession of the Winged Eagle version of the WWE Championship. The American Nightmare wore the title for one night only at SNME, but after retaining the Undisputed Championship over Owens in the main event, Cody was attacked and laid out by his challenger. Owens then left with the title.
Hook retained the FTW Championship over Roderick Strong at Dynamite Grand Slam in September, then the title was deactivated. Taz created and introduced the championship in May 1998 at ECW's It Ain't Seinfeld event as he was frustrated over not receiving a match with then-ECW World Champion Shane Douglas, who was injured but also dodging The Human Suplex Machine. After unveiling the FTW Championship, Taz began defending the strap as he felt, in his mind, that he was the "real" World Champion.
KO is a student of the industry and has incorporated legendary aspects of various wrestling storylines into his own programs over the years. There's now speculation on WWE booking Owens to move forward with the Winged Eagle WWE Championship, believing that he defeated Rhodes at Saturday Night's Main Event, and that he had to crown himself champion.
One hint at Owens keeping the Winged Eagle belt for a period of time was his backstage confrontation with Triple H at SNME. The Chief Content Officer berated KO after attacking Cody and stealing the title, but many fans have pointed to how Triple H did not take the belt back from Owens.
Taz once lost his FTW Championship on purpose to Sabu but won it back months later in an Extreme Death Match, where his ECW World Heavyweight Championship was also on the line. He ended up unifying both titles as the payoff. Fans have speculated that the big payoff to Owens vs. Cody could come at the first SNME of 2025, scheduled for January 25 in San Antonio. This would settle the status of the Undisputed Championship just days before the Royal Rumble and the official kickoff to WrestleMania 41 season.
WWE is expected to let the KO storyline play out over social media, and the AEW fans, as well as Taz and his colleagues, will surely be watching. Friday's SmackDown episode will be a taped show, but Owens did appear for a backstage promo. It will be interesting to see what happens between now and July 27 when the next live SmackDown airs from Tampa as the final episode of the year.
AEW Dynamite updated lineup for Wednesday's special
This week's AEW Dynamite will air live from the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC. Below is the updated lineup for the fifth annual Holiday Bash special going into Worlds End:
- We will hear from MJF
- Continental Classic Blue League: Shelton Benjamin vs. The Beast Mortos
- Continental Classic Gold League: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin
- AEW TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Anna Jay
AEW will also tape the fourth annual Holiday Bash Rampage on Wednesday in Washington. Brody King vs. Komander in a Continental Classic Gold League matchup is the only bout announced as of this writing.