10 Wrestlers Who Succeeded Against The Odds
8. Kevin Owens
Kevin Owens is one of the most talented performers in WWE today. A surprisingly lithe bruiser inside the ring, his wrestling skill is matched only by his charisma on the microphone and ability to play his quick-witted bully-heel role to perfection. Owens is an incredibly well-rounded performer who has won the WWE Universe over through talent and persistence: the old-fashioned way.
So what was working against him, then?
His appearance.
A stout, portly wrestler who dresses more like a backyard wrestler than a major superstar, Owens is the antithesis of Vince McMahon’s preferred “superstar look”. He doesn’t have the chiseled abs, height or general clean-cut aesthetics that WWE traditionally look for in a main eventer, but that all changed on August 29th.
Owens is WWE Universal Champion: a statement that seemed almost impossible a few months ago. His victory completely shatters the perception that wrestlers must look a certain way to become successful, and while it remains to be seen how his reign will pan-out, his win is the clearest indication yet of a shifting dynamic within WWE.
A few years ago, McMahon wouldn’t have touched a man who looked like Kevin Owens with a barge pole. In 2016, he’s made him a champion.