Former Universal Champion to leave WWE after being denied a shot at Cody Rhodes’ title? Potential booking step explored

WWE is building toward Survivor Series: WarGames 2024, set to air live on Saturday, November 30, 2024, from the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Amid this buildup, not only has The Bloodline saga captivated fans, but Kevin Owens' storyline has also become a central focus.

Things escalated dramatically on the recent SmackDown when The Prizefighter delivered a piledriver to Randy Orton. This led to Orton being stretchered backstage and sent to a hospital. A few hours ago, the company provided an official update, revealing that Orton has been diagnosed with cervical cord neurapraxia. In addition, there is currently no timetable for his return.

With Orton now sidelined, Kevin Owens could focus on Cody Rhodes. KO previously attacked Rhodes at post-Bad Blood and further escalated their rivalry with a brawl on SmackDown, indicating unfinished business between the two. This sets the stage for Owens to target Rhodes and potentially demand a shot at the Undisputed WWE Title.

However, it’s possible that Triple H or Nick Aldis could deny Owens’ title request. Instead, an authority figure might punish Owens, leading to a storyline where he is forced to leave WWE. Alternatively, frustration from continued punishments and suspensions could prompt Owens to walk away voluntarily after getting punished again instead of getting a title shot.

This angle would resonate with audiences, as Kevin Owens’ real-life WWE contract is rumored to expire soon. The Stamford-based promotion could leverage this real-world situation, turning his exit into a storyline, adding intrigue, and elevating the Owens saga to new heights.

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When is Kevin Owens' WWE contract set to expire?

The Prizefighter’s contract with WWE is set to expire in early 2025, though the exact date has yet to be disclosed. Additionally, reports suggest that All Elite Wrestling has expressed strong interest in signing KO.

This means that Tony Khan's promotion is reportedly eager to bring the former Universal Champion into their fold. Notably, it has been revealed that World Wrestling Entertainment has already approached Owens twice in recent months for a contract renewal, but negotiations have yet to yield results.

However, with KO currently being a major highlight of SmackDown programming and receiving a prominent solo storyline, it seems likely that he will renew his contract soon.

The coming months will be crucial in determining how this situation unfolds and where Kevin Owens’ storyline heads, especially with Randy Orton now out of the picture.