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In the latest WWE NEWS, Everyone expected SmackDown Live to follow in the footsteps of the precedent that Paul Heyman set with Monday Night RAW. Except it did not and it was just another by-the-numbers show, in my opinion.
However, one marked change that we saw from WWE this week was the new direction they teased for Kevin Owens. While he was the top heel, to a degree, on SmackDown Live, he seemed to tease a babyface turn at the top of the show.
But by the end of the night, it was firmly established that he will become a babyface, going forward. If we had any doubts about his future course of action, the Stunner to Dolph Ziggler should indicate what plans WWE has for him in the weeks to follow.
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So why did Vince McMahon choose to make Kevin Owens a babyface once again?
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#5 Ability to connect with the 'smart mark' crowd
What do I mean by a 'smart mark'? Well, a smart mark is a person like you or me, who is often aware of what is happening behind the scenes and how it all influences what we see on our television screens, week to week. This is a crowd that may be a lot more invested in say NXT or AEW, following the launch of the promotion.
Such a person may not see eye to eye with Vince McMahon in terms of booking, because McMahon is someone who's always valued the big muscle guys over 'independent wrestling' guys that look like Kevin Owens. In fact, Kevin Owens would probably not even have a job in the old WWE.
This is an audience that cares for individuals like Kevin Owens and will back him all the way to the top as a potential babyface Champion. With AEW getting so much positive press, this must be Vince McMahon's ploy to connect with this exclusive crowd.
See WWE Smackdown Results, Highlights of event, & more on WWE Smackdown Results page
#4 Entertaining run with The New Day
Shortly after WrestleMania, Big E was injured and he had to take some time off to recover from the same. It was at this time that Kevin Owens joined The New Day for a short but entertaining run. And until he turned heel, the audience quite liked the idea of Kevin Owens teaming up with The New Day.
The fact of the matter is that there is probably no sports entertainer in any promotion that has the same comic timing as Owens does. You could make the argument about someone like R-Truth and Elias, but neither has the ability to roast his opponents like Kevin Owens. This ability is best served as a babyface and not a heel.
I thought that his run with Jericho, as fun as it was, was a little flat because they were heels. Owens as a babyface could be pure gold!
#3 Owens' own criticism of not being given a proper babyface run
In the previous page, we touched upon Kevin Owens' whole run as a member of The New Day. We also touched upon the fact that Kevin Owens went heel to the surprise of almost no one.
Kevin Owens would be interviewed by The Wrap, where he would be critical of WWE's booking strategy:
I wish I would have been able to stay on the other side of the fence a little longer, to be honest. I don’t think anybody’s really seen me as a babyface ever, or, like, the way that I envision myself being. I don’t think people have any idea what I can do on the other side. But, you know, what’s done is done.
Maybe Owens himself pitched the idea of turning face to Vince McMahon. It is possible.
Let's see how this turn, eventually turns out!
#2 Only talking point from SmackDown, after a really packed RAW
I reached out to a few people about whether Eric Bischoff has actually taken over SmackDown Live, this week or not. The consensus seems to be that he hasn't and will only come on board after WWE Extreme Rules. Which makes sense because this week's show felt like a Vince McMahon show, all throughout.
However, that doesn't excuse the fact that this particular episode followed a really explosive episode of RAW. Which means that fans had the highest of expectations from the said show. And this was pretty much the only talking point to emerge from this week's show.
I'm guessing that had this whole turn not happened, a lot of people would be annoyed and would dub this show a waste of time. Which doesn't bode well for WWE ahead of the FOX deal, happening in October.
#1 Perfect guy to challenge Shane McMahon's corrupt reign
Kevin Owens is the closest thing to Stone Cold Steve Austin on the microphone. Maybe you can club The Miz in the same category, but The A-Lister is not nearly as savage and because of his longevity in the company, is pretty much a distinct character in his own right.
Add the fact that Kevin Owens uses the 'Stone Cold Stunner' as his finishing move, and you can pretty much dub him a reboot of the legendary Superstar.
Maybe this wasn't as obvious in his heel persona but will be far more prominent with Owens turning face.
Now Vince McMahon may make cameos for the company at times, but he's certainly not capable of pulling off yet another Stone Cold vs. McMahon storyline. But on the other hand, Shane McMahon could step into his shoes and make this storyline take place.
Do you like this idea?
