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By Andrew Ravens
Contributing Sports Writer
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Kevin Owens has shared a significant update on his recovery from a long-term neck injury. On November 7, 2025, Owens posted a short video to his X account showing him running drills at a training facility.
This is the first time Owens has been seen performing high-impact activities since being sidelined earlier this year. The footage indicates a positive progression in his rehabilitation, as he tests his conditioning and mobility following what was reported to be major surgery.
This development is a new sign regarding his potential return timetable. Owens has been off WWE programming since the spring of 2025.
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He was written off television after being pulled from a scheduled match against Randy Orton at "WrestleMania 41." This was due to the severity of his injury.
At the time, Owens announced on "SmackDown" that he required immediate neck surgery. Subsequent reports confirmed that Owens had been dealing with neck issues for some time and that he underwent a successful neck fusion surgery over the summer.
In an interview in August 2025, Owens confirmed the surgery. He stated, “I needed neck fusion… thankfully, it ended up only being one level, which is the best-case scenario for something like this”.
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The initial recovery timeline for such a procedure was lengthy. Reports from the spring and summer suggested that WWE officials were not expecting Owens back in 2025.
A return in time for "WrestleMania 42" in 2026 was also considered uncertain. Some reports indicated a likely minimum recovery time of one year.
The new video of Owens running just a few months after his reported surgery is a positive sign that his rehabilitation is progressing. While this does not confirm an imminent in-ring return, seeing him perform conditioning drills in early November could renew speculation that a return in 2026 may be a viable possibility.
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For more on WWE, head to Newsweek Sports.
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