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Kevin Owens Returns, Wins #1 Contenders Match To Open WWE SummerSlam Night Two

August 2, 2026 | Posted by Jeremy Thomas
WWE SummerSlam 2026 Kevin Owens Image Credit: WWE

Kevin Owens is back on WWE TV and the new #1 contender for the Undisputed Championship after the first match of WWE SummerSlam night two. Sunday night’s PLE opened with the #1 contenders match for CM Punk’s championship between Sami Zayn and Finn Balor. However, the match underwent a last-second change when both Gunther and a returning Owens were put into the match by Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis.

Aldis came out after Balor and Zayn were in the ring to announce that Gunther was being added to the match. Zayn was living, but he was left with his jaw dropped when Aldis also announced that Owens was back and was joining to make the match a Fatal Four-Way.

The match went about eight and a half minutes and started with Owens taking out Gunther and Balor, then hugging Zayn before they began brawling. The back and forth battle came down to the two friends, as Owens hit Gunther and Balor with Stunners late in the match. He tried the same with Zayn, who countered into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. He went for a Helluva Kick but Owens countered with a superkick, followed by a Stunner for the pinfall.

You can see clips from the match below. Owens is making his first appearance in a match since he and Zayn battled in an Unsanctioned Match at WWE Elimination Chamber 2025. He was set to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 but withdrew due to a neck injury that required surgery.

Owens now has a shot at Punk, who defeated Cody Rhodes to retain the WWE Universal Championship in the main event of WWE SummerSlam when Randy Orton returned and took Cody Rhodes out behind Punk’s back.

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