Is Kevin Owens The New Chosen One?

Monday Night Raw was all about one thing this week, and that was the crowning of a new WWE Universal Champion. In a way it’s a shame that we had to go to this so soon, because the rise of Finn Balor was pretty much perfect. He was finally called up after months upon months of speculation and teases, but when he arrived WWE was determined to make him a star. He beat Roman Reigns clean on Raw, he got a shot at the Universal Title, they established the Demon gimmick and then he won the title. Everything was going according to plan, but if I have learned anything in life it is this; life doesn’t give a shit about the best laid plans.

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— Finn Bálor (@FinnBalor) August 24, 2016

With Balor out of the picture for the next six months or so, WWE went to plan B and set up an eight man tournament to get us to this week’s show. Big Cass, Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns and Kevin Owens were the main event to give us our new champion.

Big Cass was the wildcard, he is everything Vince McMahon traditionally likes in a star, and he is obviously over. The reaction he got on Raw tonight was huge, and he certainly has a ton pf potential. The problem with Cass isn’t a question of if he was ready, we can debate that all day but you do have to play the hot hand when you have it. But to me Cass wasn’t “that” hot that you put the big title on him. The other thing to me was that all too often WWE gives younger guys a poor first time title run, and a poor run with the title could have severely hurt Cass in the long run. Instead, he got to have a great showing in the main event of Raw, more than holding his own and taking big offense from all three men before he was eliminated. He got to look good and this was an important step for him as a singles performer.

Roman Reigns is the guy Vince McMahon wants, but constant misfires have hurt Reigns and the damage is severe. The sad part is that he gets absolutely no credit for great matches he’s involved in, and that is because there is such a negative stigma attacked to the Roman Reigns character at this time. Going back to Reigns would have been the absolutely wrong call here, as it would have been his FOURTH title run since November of last year. Just putting the title back on him would have been the ultimate in “fuck you, that’s why” booking. The finish, while very debatable and we will discuss that later, did play well off of Triple H’s history with Reigns and provided one hell of a surprise.

Seth Rollins was WWE’s safe space. Rollins has long been presented as “The Authority’s guy,” and going back to him would have made sense for the company on several levels. Rollins had been a champion and only lost it due to injury, and with Balor out of the picture I think many assumed that Rollins and/or Reigns winning and then going back into a program was the right, but most importantly, safe, call. But going back to Rollins, who just lost the WWE Title and then Universal Title recently didn’t feel like the right call. WWE actually opted to not play it safe, and may head towards a Seth Rollins face turn.

And then there was Kevin Owens. Kevin Owens certainly is not a Vince McMahon prototype, but you cannot discount his skills. He is a gifted in ring performer, delivering some of WWE’s best matches of the year with Sami Zayn and is also great on the mic. There is no denying that he has the tools to be the champion, to run with the belt and to deliver, but the question always was “would WWE ever give him the chance?” And with the unfortunate injury of Finn Balor, and going back to Rollins and Reigns right away being less than ideal, the opening was there and Kevin Owens won the Universal Title. As a fan it’s a great moment to see someone that you’ve watched and supported for years climb to the top and get the title. I can only imagine the reaction of his son when he father’s hand was raised and he was announced as he new champion. It was a tremendous moment.

The Triple H involvement will be a huge talking point. From a storyline perspective, it makes a lot of sense. He has heat with Reigns because he lost the title to him at WrestleMania. Seth Rollins was his chosen one, and repeatedly failed in recent attempts to become the champion again. And that face off with Mick Foley, who he has a storied history with, was a great capper to his involvement. Also, Kevin Owens was one of his “NXT kids,” so the help there also makes sense as he looks to pick a new heir to the throne.

What is unsettling to many is the fact that we’re back to the same old same old for Raw, with the Authority controlling the main title. Some are upset that Kevin Owens “didn’t win” the title, and that Triple H gave it to him. Which brings me to this question, did WWE make Kevin Owens the man, or did they just put the title on him? That is the important question going forward. Will Owens be treated as a proper world champion and really given the chance to run with it and prove himself? Or will he be a puppet in the latest battle involving the Authority, a pawn in the possible Triple H vs. Stephanie feud. Reports are that WWE has wanted to set Stephanie as a more friendly and empathetic figure with her book coming out. Will they take all of he attention while Owens plays puppet, or did he just become the chosen one.

Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, I know a certain young man who will be extra motivated in the coming weeks. I just hope that the company plays into the established feud and fact that Sami Zayn recently defeated Owens…

“You and I are destined to do this forever…”