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Kevin Owens has been a babyface ever since he made his return from injury. And yet, on this week's episode of SmackDown Live (read results here), Kevin Owens would turn on Kofi Kingston, annihilating the WWE Champion.
What caused him to take such a drastic step and turn on the beloved babyface? After all, he never even got to have a real babyface run like he should have had, considering that the crowd was actually gravitating towards him.
You have to admit that you did chuckle and snicker when Owens adopted the character of Big O, an honorary member of The New Day. Had he continued as a babyface, I'm guessing he would have been one of the top stars on SmackDown Live.
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So what could possibly have caused him to go heel?
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#5 Owens was always better as a heel
Yes, I did enjoy Kevin Owens gyrating his hips to the New Day's theme song, but we all knew deep in our hearts that something was amiss with the whole situation. We're all just so used to seeing Kevin Owens as a heel, that something did not sit well with Kevin Owens as a babyface character. Were you guys even surprised to see Kevin Owens go heel?
Yes, Owens does have the potential to be a good babyface, somewhere down the line, but he excels at being a heel. We all remember the excellent rivalry he had with Sami Zayn, back when Zayn was a babyface. We also love and remember the 'Festival of Friendship' segment with Chris Jericho.
The New Day romance was great and I quite liked the short lived alliance between the men but let's be honest- was this ever going to last? No one really believed it would!
#4 Best opponent for Kofi Kingston right now
The fact that Kevin Owens and Kofi Kingston are both great in-ring workers is certainly a big reason why Owens went heel. When the two men do clash, presumably at Money in The Bank, the match quality certainly will not disappoint. But let me tell you guys why I think he's the best opponent for Kingston from the WWE roster.
There is a readymade story here if one were to glance at the facts. Kevin Owens did return as a babyface and he took up the spot that Kofi Kingston had earned against Daniel Bryan at WWE Fastlane. Vince McMahon believed in Owens and thought him to be a much bigger opponent for Daniel Bryan.
But then, a former champion himself, he was sidelined as Kofi Kingston attained much gold and glory. Kevin Owens is the prizefighter and this must have irked him quite a bit!
#3 Daniel Bryan's injury
Daniel Bryan was the top heel on SmackDown Live, and he was doing a great job riling up the masses against him. But now Daniel Bryan has been injured again and in all likelihood, Kevin Owens will take his spot.
There are a lot of similarities between Kevin Owens and Daniel Bryan if you consider the way they came up through the independents. Kevin Owens is also a natural on the microphone and while Daniel Bryan wasn't one as a babyface, he's really come into his own as a heel.
It is unfortunate indeed that Daniel Bryan has to sit on the sidelines once again after once again being part of such a special WrestleMania moment. But it allows for Kevin Owens to show us just how good he can potentially be as a heel.
Let's hope Bryan all the best and hope that he returns very soon indeed.
#2 To make up for Owens missing WrestleMania 35
As you look at Vince McMahon stare aghast while Kevin Owens jives with Kofi Kingston and the New Day, cast your mind back to just how badly he has been booked. How do you have a performer of Kevin Owens' caliber and not even have him show up at WrestleMania? Not as a part of a skit or a backstage segment either.
Kevin Owens was also the best Universal Champion that the belt has known, in my opinion. His reign came to an unfortunate end in a strange match against Goldberg. Sure, Goldberg is a legend in his own right and I'm a long-time fan, but it just seemed unjust.
This may be a way for WWE to make up for all of the injustice that they have done to Owens and his character thus far. We know that WWE does reward underutilized performers eventually.
#1 He's been kept away from the title picture for way too long
Did you catch the snippet of Kevin Owens doing commentary with New Day member Xavier Woods during the Nakamura vs. Kingston match, this week? Woods referred to Kevin Owens as a former WWE Champion, but Owens would correct him and mention that he was only a former Universal Champion.
It's been such a long time since he was the Universal Champion that it's easy to forget just how good he was. Before his injury, Kevin Owens was in a pointless feud with Braun Strowman, that had its comic moments but did not showcase Owens in all his potential.
And this is why I personally believe that it did not make sense for Owens to be kept away from the title picture anymore. And to take on a babyface like Kingston, Owens had to go heel.
What do you think?
