Why a babyface Kevin Owens can be exactly what WWE needs right now
Currently sidelined by way of knee injuries, Kevin Owens is primed for a big return one way or another.
If this past week's WWE Raw vignette proved anything, it's that the ideology of the longtime main roster heel could be on its way to "turn a new leaf."
Sure, it was less than two minutes and the quality looked like it was shot via a 2007 Razor mobile phone, but it gave us great insight into the possible KO to come.
He noted that he cherished the family time he got before he's back on the road. That's not a surprise, he's always been a "family man" even as a bad guy. His intentions are bad but for a good purpose, it's as if you rob a bank to provide for your loved ones.
Right beside him in the Bowling Alley was his son Owen -- again, which backs up the "family man" philosophy.
There was something different about Owens here though, beyond his words that it was "tough to watch other people do what he did best."
He sported a black Cassius Clay tank top, which alludes to Muhammed Ali, who also called himself "The Greatest." He was also noticeably slimmed down, which can only be good for Owens' success, as his weight has sometimes held him back creatively.
You could even argue that he endeared himself to us as he rolled a gutter ball. He's always been a comedic heel, perhaps more than we'd like at times, but this was the first time he put the joke on himself.
He also mentioned that he hasn't been told which brand he'd come back to, but was "one more month out or so" from a return. That would mean a return in early March, which gives him time to get settled in for WrestleMania 35 to take place on April 7.
Normally, we'd worry about Owens not having a place on the card, but the way that he went out assures us he has a storyline gift-wrapped and ready for his return - the current WWE Intercontinental Champion Bobby Lashley.
On Owens' last match before his exit, he was "injured" by Lashley, who used the moment to turn heel. You mix that with the crowd's positive reaction to Owens during the match and how he seemed to accept their approval, it's what we call a "double turn."
Now, this will depend on if Sami Zayn is also ready for an in-ring return, but if not, Zayn could easily be in Owens' corner to counteract Lio Rush, Lashley's manager, an ever-present presence at ringside.
With WWE Champion Daniel Bryan now a passionate, eco-friendly heel, a babyface Owens has all the room in the world to become the most popular guy in WWE. His merchandise sales have always been modest and he can keep the essence of his character the same as a face.
His loud, brash, confident ways can remain but just directed at heels. He doesn't have to become a white-meat babyface. That'd actually hurt him in the eyes of the people.
WWE just has to be careful not to make him too much like "The Man" Becky Lynch, but this can be accomplished if they keep the two on separate brands.
The 2019 WWE Superstar Shakeup takes place on April 15 and 16 from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Anyone who's anyone knows that Owens hail from Montreal and always gets monster reactions there.
To wait until then for Owens to return makes sense, but they can just so easily return him to Raw, have him get revenge on Lashley, win the IC Title and then draft him to SmackDown as IC Champion. Boom, the rest of his year is set.
Down the road, he'd even make a formidable challenger to Bryan if they intend to keep him as a longtime Champion, which by the ways of his custom-made eco-friendly belt, looks to be the case.
Throughout his career, Owens has achieved Championship success and hasn't compromised any aspects of his character to do so. A babyface return is a fresh start in many ways and can propel him to the bigger success he deserves.