20 Most Unbelievable WWE Moments From 2016

5. Kevin Owens Become WWE Universal Champion

20 Unbelievable Moments 2016
WWE.com

When Kevin Steen was signed by WWE and it was announced that he would be reporting to the Performance Center in August 2014, indy wrestling fans couldn't believe it.

Despite being a great worker, Kevin Steen didn't possess the typical look of a WWE superstar. For years, WWE valued appearance over in-ring skill and passed on talents that would go on to make a name for themselves in pro-wrestling's minor leagues. Every now and then the company would sign a big name from the indies (read: CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Chris Hero, and Low Ki), but not all of them worked out. The ones that didn't were used as examples of why WWE didn't seek out many indy stars.

Around 2014, WWE began changing the way they viewed indy talent. Triple H is often credited for this shift in strategy thanks to his pet promotion, NXT. The Game recognized the talent of indy stars like El Generico, Kevin Steen, and Pac, and used his NXT developmental promotion to transform them into Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, and Neville, respectively.

So Kevin Owens debuting in NXT and shortly after becoming NXT Champion was surprising. But to do the same thing on the main roster by winning the newly-created Universal Championship was an unbelievable moment many thought would never happen.

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A former stuntman for Paramount Pictures, Matt enjoys sports, water skiing, driving fast, the beach, professional wrestling, technology, and scotch. At the same time, whenever possible. Having attended many famous (and infamous) shows including WrestleMania XV, In Your House: Mind Games, and the 1995 King of the Ring, Matt has been a lifelong professional sports and wrestling fan. Matt's been mentioned in numerous wrestling podcasts including the Steve Austin Show: Unleashed, Talk Is Jericho, and Something To Wrestle With Bruce Prichard. As a former countywide performer, Matt has been referred to as Mr. 300 for his amazing accomplishments in the world of amateur bowling. He is also the only man on record to have pitched back-to-back no hitters in the Veterans Stadium Wiffle Ball League of 2003.