Finn Balor Opens Up On Kevin Owens’ SummerSlam Return

Finn Balor is sharing his perspective on Kevin Owens’ surprise return at WWE SummerSlam, an emotional moment he witnessed firsthand from inside the ring.

On night two of SummerSlam earlier this month, a number one contenders match between Balor and Sami Zayn was reworked into a fatal four-way, adding Gunther and the returning Owens to the mix. That shift transformed what was already a high-stakes contest into one of the show’s most talked-about moments, as fans got their first live look at Owens back in action.

Reflecting on the moment, Balor said, “The fact that Kevin Owens was able to return to the ring made me very happy for him as a person.” It’s a simple but telling comment from a performer who was literally standing across the ring when Owens made his way back, underscoring just how significant the return was — not only for the storyline, but for Owens himself.

Owens has spent much of the last year dealing with a serious neck issue that sidelined him from in-ring competition, making his health and eventual comeback a story that extended well beyond kayfabe. For a locker room that has watched him battle through that recovery, seeing him back in a WWE ring carried extra weight, and Balor’s remarks reflect a sentiment likely shared by plenty of his peers.

From a storyline standpoint, folding Owens into the number one contenders picture alongside Balor, Zayn and Gunther immediately raises the stakes for the top of the card. All four men have deep, tangled histories — Zayn and Owens’ bond dates back years, Balor has clashed with both in various stretches of his singles run, and Gunther remains one of the most dominant forces WWE has built around in recent memory. Turning a straightforward number one contenders match into a fatal four-way not only made room for Owens’ comeback moment but also set up a genuinely unpredictable path toward a future title opportunity.

The bigger question now is how quickly WWE leans back into Owens as a full-time presence. A surprise return at a premium live event like SummerSlam is one thing; sustaining that momentum through weekly television is another, especially for someone coming off a significant injury layoff. Balor’s comments suggest the internal excitement around Owens’ return is real, and how creative chooses to build on that fatal four-way outcome will go a long way toward shaping the next chapter of the WWE title picture.

For now, Owens is back, the number one contenders picture has been blown wide open, and Balor — like plenty of fans — seems genuinely glad to see it.