5 Biggest Winners & Losers From WWE Raw (29 Aug)

1. Winner: Kevin Owens

Yes, Kevin Owens won the Universal Championship through Triple H’s interference.

Yes, he wouldn’t have been in this position if not for Finn Balor’s injury.

Yes, there’s a good chance he became Triple H’s new protege last night.

But, quite frankly, who cares? Kevin Owens is the WWE Universal Champion. One of the Raw roster’s most exciting, charismatic and dynamic performers has defied convention to become the brand’s top champion and, in the process, one of WWE’s most important performers. If that’s not reason enough to celebrate, then what is?

There was perhaps too much focus on Triple H, but the only thing fans are going to remember is Kevin Owens leaving Raw with the Universal Championship. KO capped-off a thrilling main event with the biggest win of his WWE career, and now looks set to become one of the red brand’s cornerstones.

It’s the ultimate validation for a wrestler who has grafted his way to the top the old-fashioned way. Kevin Owens is living, breathing proof that a wrestler can still make it to the top in WWE through hard work, determination and talent. Last night, Owens drove a stake through the heart of the idea that a wrestler must look like a fitness model to win WWE gold, and after all he’s given to the industry, he deserves a long, successful run as champion.

Nobody knows what happens next, and that’s the most exciting thing. Has Owens aligned with Triple H, or is he working alone and H’s actions were those of a man gone rogue? Who will be KO’s first challenger? How will he handle life as Raw’s new top dog?

Time will tell, but for now, let’s just enjoy one of the most exciting and dramatic moments of 2016.