Kevin Owens has largely failed to succumb to the curse of the Intercontinental Championship. He has taken very few televised losses since winning the belt, which is something that plagued previous champions Wade Barrett and Dolph Ziggler. On Sunday at TLC, he lost the title to Dean Ambrose in perhaps the biggest surprise of the night. This would seem, on the face of it, to be a bad thing for Owens. His "prize fighter" gimmick almost requires him to either hold championship gold or to be in pursuit of it at all times. Without the Intercontinental Title, he loses some of his heel power. There is the chance, however, that WWE has taken the title away from Owens in order to allow him to pursue a higher prize. Since his NXT call-up after WrestleMania, Owens has been pushed hard and to the top, so it's not out of the question that he could move into the WWE Championship picture in the wake of TLC. Owens' heel status would appear to exclude him from going after current champion Sheamus, but it would not be a surprise to see Owens make a major showing in next month's Royal Rumble. In one of the most unpredictable Rumbles in years, Owens even stands a chance of emerging from the arena with a WrestleMania title shot in his possession. Either way, WWE has an opportunity to really take Owens to the next level in the coming weeks and months.
Freelance film journalist and fan of professional wrestling. Usually found in a darkened screening room looking for an aisle seat and telling people to put away their mobile phones. Also known to do a bit of stand-up comedy, so I'm used to the occasional heckle.
