Injured WWE star reacts to longtime rival’s championship breakthrough
Summary
– Kevin Owens said Sami Zayn’s WWE Championship win was the moment he most wished he could attend
– Owens missed the title change because he is still sidelined with a neck injury
– He called Sami’s rise inevitable and praised him as one of the best
Kevin Owens could not be in the building for Sami Zayn’s biggest WWE moment, but he made sure his message was heard.
Zayn captured the WWE Championship after defeating Cody Rhodes and Gunther in a Triple Threat Match. The victory marked a career-defining night for Sami after years of chasing the top prize.
Owens is currently away from the ring because of a neck injury. He said that the injury has already cost him a lot over the past 15 months, but nothing hurt more than missing Sami’s championship win.
The reaction carried extra weight because Owens and Zayn have one of WWE’s most layered relationships. They have been partners, enemies, champions, and constant parts of each other’s careers.
Owens said Sami has always brought out the best in him, whether they were fighting on opposite sides or standing together. He added that Sami became undeniable because he has been great for so long.
He also pushed back on the idea that the title win was a surprise. Owens said Sami becoming WWE Champion felt inevitable because he had long deserved the moment.
Owens shared several photos of himself and Sami from different points in their friendship. One story stood out, as Owens recalled Sami helping him get dressed in a Texas hotel room after Owens thought he had badly hurt his back the night before.
That personal memory showed how deep their bond runs beyond wrestling. Their connection has survived fights, betrayals, reunions, and a WrestleMania 39 Tag Team Title win.
Sami’s championship victory was already emotional for fans, but Owens’ reaction added another layer. He may not have been there in person, but his pride in Sami’s achievement was impossible to miss.
I’ve missed a lot of things I wish I hadn’t in the last 15 months because of this injury but today is, by far, the one I wish I had been there for the most.
He has brought out the best in me as both an ally and a foe. That’s because he is THE best.
When you’re consistently… pic.twitter.com/bIn3uCzBLs
— Kevin (@FightOwensFight) June 27, 2026
