WWE is continuing to shake things up behind the scenes on its reality-based programming, as a new report has revealed some notable names joining the next season of WWE LFG.
According to PWInsider Elite, Kevin Owens and Natalya have been selected to serve as mentors for season three of the A&E series. Filming for the upcoming season is reportedly already underway, and the show is expected to feature a refreshed format compared to previous years. One of the key changes being discussed is an increased use of guest stars, which should add more variety and star power to individual episodes.
Booker T and Bully Ray will return in their coaching roles, bringing back their Hall of Fame wisdom from the first two seasons. Owens and Natalya add more experience to the cast, both having earned reputations as locker room leaders with decades of experience combined.
As of now, there’s no official word on when season three will premiere, but production progress suggests WWE and A&E are moving full steam ahead.
Owens’ involvement is particularly notable given his current status. The former Universal Champion has been training at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando as he continues his recovery from neck fusion surgery earlier this year. The injury forced Owens to miss WrestleMania 41, but the surgery was reportedly successful, and his return to in-ring competition is tentatively expected in early 2026.
Natalya, meanwhile, brings extensive experience to the mentor role, with her veteran presence and deep-rooted wrestling background making her a natural fit to help guide emerging talent. With established stars like Owens and Natalya on board — and more guest appearances planned — season three of WWE LFG is shaping up to feel more dynamic than ever when it eventually hits the airwaves.
One of WWE’s most beloved superstars is officially on the shelf for the foreseeable future. Kevin Owens, the former Universal Champion and fan-favorite brawler, has undergone neck surgery after months of uncertainty about his in-ring future.
Back on April 4 during SmackDown, Owens shocked fans when he grabbed a microphone and revealed he’d been wrestling through significant neck issues. Despite his best efforts to push through the pain for a planned WrestleMania 41 showdown with Randy Orton, Owens confirmed that he would need surgery — stepping away from competition indefinitely.
At the time, reports swirled suggesting Owens had already gone under the knife. However, those claims were premature. According to a new report from Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, Owens finally underwent surgery on July 18. WWE insiders have indicated that recovery from this type of neck procedure generally takes about a year — casting serious doubt on Owens’ chances of making it back in time for WrestleMania 42 in April 2026.
That said, every recovery journey is unique. WWE reportedly plans to monitor Owens’ progress closely, with no firm timetable set for his return. The company seems committed to giving Owens the time he needs to heal fully, both for his health and future in the ring.
In a candid interview on Cody Rhodes’ What Do You Wanna Talk About? podcast before his surgery, Owens opened up about the frustrating nature of his injury. Despite feeling little to no pain at times, the damage to his spinal cord was severe enough that a medical clearance was impossible. Owens explained that doctors advised waiting for natural healing before surgery to improve his long-term recovery prospects.
With surgery now complete, fans around the world will be watching and waiting for updates on Owens’ condition. His grit and resilience have defined his WWE career, and while his road back may be long, no one is counting out the Prizefighter.
Kevin Owens has provided a much-needed update on his health after weeks of speculation surrounding the neck injury that sidelined him from WrestleMania 41 — and from WWE programming entirely.
Owens was originally scheduled for a high-profile singles match against Randy Orton at this year’s WrestleMania, but ongoing neck issues forced him to pull out ahead of the event. Since then, details on his condition have been limited — until now.
Taking to social media, Owens addressed fans directly to set the record straight. He confirmed that while surgery is likely in his future, he has not yet undergone any procedure, despite conflicting reports circulating online.
“So, first, we don’t have a surgery date yet. I have not had surgery yet,” Owens said. “We’re still gonna try and figure out what the best way to go about it all is, exactly what needs to be done… Hopefully in the next few weeks, we get clarity and we do the surgery and then we go from there.”
Owens admitted there’s still “a lot of uncertainty” surrounding his condition, making it unclear exactly when he might return to the ring — or how long his recovery could take once a plan is in place.
The former Universal Champion has been absent from WWE TV since early spring, with his absence leaving a noticeable gap on Raw as the company builds toward its summer slate of events. Despite being on the sidelines, Owens remains a key part of WWE’s long-term plans — assuming his recovery goes smoothly once the path forward becomes clear.
For now, fans will have to wait as Owens and his medical team continue to assess his condition and determine the next step. But one thing’s for certain: KO’s trademark transparency and resilience are still very much intact.
We’ll keep you posted with any updates on Owens’ status as soon as they become available, right here at WrestlingNewsBlog.com.
Kevin Owens is keeping his chin up — even if it’s his neck that needs fixing.
After delivering a surprising and emotional announcement on WWE SmackDown last week, Kevin Owens confirmed he’ll be stepping away from the ring to undergo neck surgery. The news sparked concern among fans, with some even speculating this could be a career-threatening situation. But if you ask KO himself? He’s not ready to hang up the boots just yet.
Speaking on the My Mom’s Basement podcast, Owens offered a candid and hopeful update on his condition and future in WWE. While acknowledging the seriousness of the injury, “The Prizefighter” made it clear that a return is very much on his mind.
“I know I’ll come back — or at the very least, I really hope I come back. You know, I guess there’s … I never take anything for granted in what we do, so who knows? But it’s pretty likely I’ll come back,” Owens said.
More than just a return, Owens already has his sights set on a dream singles match against none other than Randy Orton. The two briefly clashed at WrestleMania 40 in a triple threat match that also involved Logan Paul, but Owens wants another shot — one-on-one with “The Viper.”
“Maybe we could do it [a match with Orton at WrestleMania] eventually,” he added, suggesting that he’s not done chasing WrestleMania moments.
As for his recovery timeline, the former Universal Champion admitted it’s still early days. He hasn’t spoken to his surgeon yet — that appointment is set for this week — but based on what others have experienced with similar injuries, Owens estimates his absence could last anywhere from six to twelve months.
“Most of the people who have gone through similar things have probably, you know, six months to eight months to a year. So I would assume within that range, but I don’t really know. Like I said, it’s all really new right now.”
Owens’ last match came at Elimination Chamber in February, where he picked up a win over longtime friend (and sometimes rival) Sami Zayn — a fitting high note before taking time off.
While there’s still a long road ahead, Owens’ passion for the business and his desire for that elusive singles match with Orton could be the fuel he needs to power through recovery. For now, fans will have to wait — but if history has taught us anything, it’s that Kevin Owens always finds a way to fight back.
Stay locked in to WrestlingNewsBlog.com for updates on KO’s status and all things WWE.
Just days after confirming he’s out of WrestleMania 41, Kevin Owens has shed more light on the injury that’s taken him off the road — and it turns out, the damage may not have come from one of his high-risk, headline-grabbing matches.
During an appearance on the My Mom’s Basement podcast ahead of this week’s WWE SmackDown, Owens candidly spoke about his neck issues, revealing that the injury likely happened during a routine match in January, not during his more extreme outings like his ladder match with Cody Rhodes or his Unsanctioned Match with Sami Zayn.
“25 years in, with the stuff I’ve done, I feel like it was bound to happen,” Owens said. “It sucks. The timing sucks, for sure… but I felt great even recently. This wasn’t something constant. It was just something that didn’t feel right the last few months.”
Owens explained that he had undergone a full-body MRI back in December — mostly out of curiosity — and while it revealed wear and tear (including his well-documented knee issues), doctors at the time gave him the green light. But a match in January changed everything.
“There were two things that really jarred my neck,” he recalled. “That’s when the issues started. I knew something was wrong. This week we did another MRI and found out it’s serious.”
So serious, in fact, that WWE’s medical team told Owens he wouldn’t be cleared for WrestleMania. That revelation hit hard.
“I was so shocked I almost stopped listening,” Owens admitted. “I knew something was up, but I didn’t think it was that bad. I thought we’d take care of it after WrestleMania.”
Unfortunately, that’s not how things played out. Owens now faces neck surgery and is staring down an uncertain recovery timeline. He hasn’t yet consulted with a surgeon but believes he could be out anywhere from six months to a year.
Missing Randy Orton at WrestleMania: “That Bugs Me the Most”
Perhaps the most painful part of the timing is that Owens was set to face Randy Orton in a one-on-one match at WrestleMania 41 — a dream bout for KO.
“That’s the part that bugs me the most,” he said. “I know I’ll be back. At least I hope I will. But this year was supposed to be me vs. Randy Orton at WrestleMania. That’s huge for me.”
Owens took some solace in the fact that he shared the ring with Orton last year — albeit in a multi-man match he jokingly noted included “that other annoying guy” (take your guess on that one).
Injury Came from a “Regular Match”
In a fascinating twist, Owens pushed back against fans assuming his injury must have come from a violent spot in one of his more chaotic matches.
“It happened in a regular match,” Owens clarified. “No hardcore things. Nothing. Just two very simple things I’ve done a million times. That’s what’s funny about it. Sometimes it’s just bad luck — and I think in that match, those two things were just this much off.”
He also addressed fan criticism and misconceptions surrounding his in-ring style and recent use of barbed wire, pointing out that just because he didn’t bleed doesn’t mean it wasn’t legit.
“Our entire craft is making people believe something that’s not actually happening — and I’m very good at that,” he said. “Some people will never believe me anyway, and that’s fine.”
What’s Next?
As of now, Owens will undergo surgery soon and meet with specialists to finalize his recovery plan. There’s no concrete timeline for his return, but he remains hopeful and focused on coming back strong.
For now, the KO Show is on pause — but if we’ve learned anything about Kevin Owens over the last 25 years, it’s that this isn’t the end. Just the next chapter.
Stay with Wrestling News Blog for updates on KO’s surgery, recovery timeline, and the fallout from his WrestleMania absence.
WrestleMania season just took a major hit. On Friday night’s WWE SmackDown, Kevin Owens delivered a heartbreaking update: he’s undergoing neck surgery and will be sidelined indefinitely — including missing out on a highly anticipated showdown with Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis opened the segment, setting a somber tone and reminding fans why WWE always warns against trying this at home. Aldis then brought Owens to the ring so the former Universal Champion could break the news himself.
Owens revealed that he’s been quietly battling a neck injury for the past four months but only recently discovered the full extent of the damage. The diagnosis? Surgery is required — and the timing couldn’t be worse. Owens admitted that missing WrestleMania stings, especially since he was set to face a legend like Randy Orton on the grandest stage of them all.
In an emotional moment, Owens thanked WWE for letting him speak directly to the fans, unsure of when he’ll be able to perform in front of them again. He expressed his gratitude and apologized, visibly emotional as he walked away.
But the moment didn’t end there.
As Owens made his exit, Orton’s music hit. The Viper walked to the ring and locked eyes with Owens on the apron. No words were exchanged — just a silent, mutual moment of respect. With Owens gone, Aldis told Orton the reality of the situation: with Owens out, Orton has no WrestleMania opponent.
Orton’s answer? A thunderous RKO to the General Manager.
While Owens begins his road to recovery, the question now looms large: what’s next for Randy Orton heading into WrestleMania 41? And more importantly, when — or if — we’ll see KO back in the ring.
Stay with Wrestling News Blog for updates on Owens’ recovery.
Pwinsider is reporting that according to multiple WWE sources, the situation is serious, with Owens likely needing surgery — potentially spinal fusion.
In the show’s main event, Rhodes successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against Owens in a hard-fought battle. Post-match, as Rhodes celebrated in the ring with the Winged Eagle title—a belt he’s long spoken about as a symbol of his championship dreams—Owens struck with a ruthless attack. The shocking piledriver left the champion needing to be stretchered out of the arena, leaving the WWE Universe stunned.
But Owens wasn’t done. Seizing the historic title, Owens marched up the ramp, seemingly intent on taking the belt with him. However, his path was blocked by none other than WWE Chief Content Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque. Video posted to X (formerly Twitter) captured the heated confrontation as Triple H intercepted Owens at the stage. The two men exchanged words before the confrontation escalated, with Triple H knocking the championship out of Owens’ hands and shoving him multiple times. Officials quickly intervened to separate the two as tensions flared. WWE later posted its own video to X.
According toPWInsider, Triple H recovered the Winged Eagle title and ensured it was safeguarded after Owens was escorted to the back. WWE later shared its own video of the incident on social media, sparking widespread speculation about what’s next for Kevin Owens and his apparent fixation on the historic championship.
Cody Rhodes has been vocal for years about his love for the Winged Eagle design, which holds sentimental value to him as a callback to a classic era of WWE champions. While Rhodes got to fulfill his dream of wearing the title for one night, Owens’ actions cast a dark shadow over his victory celebration.
The fallout from Owens’ attack and his confrontation with Triple H promises to be explosive. Is this the beginning of a bitter rivalry between Kevin Owens and WWE management? And what consequences await Owens for his actions? Stay tuned, as this story is far from over.
Kevin Owens was seen attacking Cody Rhodes in the parking lot following WWE Bad Blood. The pair have stood shoulder-to-shoulder for months now, aligned in their battle against both Roman Reigns’ and Solo Sikoa’s versions of The Bloodline, but they also stood against one another at August’s Bash In Berlin event with the WWE Championship on the line, with a belief that Owens might turn on Rhodes it came as a surprise to see them embrace to close that night.
But it appears that their relationship was finally tested beyond its limits by Rhodes team-up with Reigns at Bad Blood on Saturday, following on from KO giving his friend the cold shoulder on recent weeks of “WWE SmackDown.” Footage captured and shared by fans in Atlanta saw the “Prizefighter” arguing with Rhodes beside his bus, then eventually punching him before delivering stomps and more punches to a grounded Rhodes. Owens also managed to throw a garbage can in Rhodes’ direction before he was run off by security. It’s unknown when and how WWE will air the segment officially, but the angle was presumably being shot for next week’s TV. WWE CCO Paul Levesque sold the encounter during the post-show press conference, intimating that Rhodes was supposed to attend the presser but was unavailable.
Rhodes and Reigns teamed up for the first time ever to take on Sikoa and Jacob Fatu representing The Bloodline, with Reigns securing the win via pinfall following a familial assist. Jimmy Uso made his return for the first time since April, distracting Sikoa for Reigns to score the win. Uso and Reigns embraced following the match, going on to make the save for Rhodes when he was jumped by The Bloodline after the match. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson also made a cameo to close the segment, teasing a future feud with Rhodes and/or Reigns down the line.
UPDATE
Paul “Triple H” Levesque Addresses Brawl Between Cody Rhodes And Kevin Owens After WWE Bad Blood
Levesque, on X, said that he and WWE management are aware of the incident and stated that they will deal with it.
“We are aware of the incident outside of the arena last night between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. The matter will be dealt with internally,” said Levesque.
We are aware of the incident outside of the arena last night between Cody Rhodes and Kevin Owens. The matter will be dealt with internally.
After outlasting seven other competitors in a fierce tournament, Kevin Owens was rewarded with a title match against United States Champion Logan Paul at the 2024 Royal Rumble. Unfortunately for Owens, his title pursuit didn’t go quite as planned as the referee caught him using a pair of brass knuckles, resulting in a disqualification victory for Paul. Additionally, a new report has also indicated that Owens worked through an injury during this premium live event performance.
According to the Wrestling Observer, Owens challenged Paul while battling a fractured foot. Owens’ injury was reportedly sustained during his last match, which occurred on the January 5 episode of “WWE SmackDown” against Santos Escobar. While Owens remained out of in-ring action in the weeks following, he was involved in several physical on-screen segments with Paul, such as their brawl at the WWE Performance Center, in the lead-up to their title match.
As of this writing, it remains unknown if Owens’ injury will cause him to miss any television time. In the wake of his loss, though, Owens appeared in a digital exclusive (via WWE’s YouTube channel), making it clear that his issues with the “The Maverick” were far from finished.
Paul took possession of the United States Championship in November by defeating WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio at WWE’s Crown Jewel event in Saudi Arabia. Following Paul’s victory, WWE announced that his first challenger would be determined through a number one contenders tournament, with the winner (which later turned out to be Owens) earning themselves a title shot at the Royal Rumble event.
The season premiere of “WWE SmackDown” was always set to have an announcement from Chief Creative Officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque, but what we got was a triple-whammy, with Adam Pearce announced as the new General Manager of “Raw,” Kevin Owens as the trade chip returned to “SmackDown” in exchange for Jey Uso, and former NWA World Heavyweight Champion, Nick Aldis, introduced as the new GM of “Smackdown.”
After the appointment of Pearce, who Levesque acknowledged for doing a great job as the all-encompassing authority figure on both brands for the last several years and subsequently promoted to “Raw” GM, Levesque alluded to the “SmackDown” side of things. He was interrupted by “NXT” North American Champion — and The Judgment Day’s biggest heat magnet — Dominik Mysterio before calling Aldis into the ring.
Aldis, following a handshake agreement with Levesque, fought off Dom’s interjections and the ensuing crowd displeasure, to turn the conversation back to the completion of the Jey Uso trade. That’s when Owens’ music hit and “KO” made his way to the ring. Not showing any patience whatsoever, Owens immediately Stunned Dom, putting an end to the segment and seemingly kicking off a new era for both brands on the road to Survivor Series.
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