10 New Directions For WWE After Night Of Champions 2026

1. Kevin Owens Returning?

Kevin Owens Neck Injury 2025
WWE.com

Was Cody mentioning Kevin Owens on the latest SmackDown a teaser for things to come? KO is back in the WWE frame as a guest for NXT's Great American Bash this weekend, but that's more fan service than a fully fledged comeback. People won't consider Owens truly back until he walks out in front of a crowd on Raw or SmackDown, let's get that straight.

The sheer number of matches Kev and Sami have had? Borderline funny at this point. They've worked a quite staggering amount as both partners and rivals across ROH, NXT and WWE's main roster, but they've never done it quite like this; KO and Zayn have never thrown bombs as fans chant "FIGHT FOREVER" whilst Sami is WWE Champion, because he's never held that belt until now.

Obviously, all of this would rely on Owens being fit and ready to go following major neck surgery last year. It's been a long, no-doubt painful rehab for the firm favourite, but how awesome would it be for these real-life buddies to go at it hammer and tongs for the biggest belt in the industry soon?

That's the kind of thing they could only have dreamed about when they were cramming into cars for cross-country journeys on the independent circuit many moons ago. Bring it.

Where else can you see WWE booking going after Night Of Champions? For more wrestling, check out 10 Wrestling Jobbers So BIZARRE They Feel Made Up and 10 Most INSANE Promises Wrestling Promoters Made To Wrestlers!

Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.