Owens addresses long-standing personal friction with Punk ahead of their SmackDown championship bout in Toronto.
Kevin Owens is set to challenge CM Punk for the WWE Championship on SmackDown in Toronto on August 21. In interviews with FACES Magazine, Owens discussed the nature of their rivalry and the significance of the match location.
Owens stated that he and Punk have known each other for nearly 20 years and that their animosity does not require creative manufacturing. According to Owens, the two are simply incompatible, and existing tension between them is genuine rather than storyline-driven.
Regarding the Toronto venue, Owens explained that his parents will attend the match, marking a meaningful difference from when he won the Universal Championship in 2016. Owens also commented positively on WWE’s women’s division, noting that female performers in NXT are outperforming their male counterparts.
What we know
- Owens faces Punk for the WWE Championship on SmackDown, August 21, in Toronto
- Owens and Punk have known each other for approximately 20 years
- Owens stated their conflict is rooted in genuine incompatibility, not manufactured tension
- Owens' parents will attend the Toronto match
- Owens praised the women's division in NXT as the future of WWE
What is still unclear
- Specific details of Owens' reasoning for choosing Toronto remain partially unclear from available excerpts
Reporting timeline
Kevin Owens – ‘The Women Of NXT Are Kind Of Whipping The Dude’s A**es Right Now’
Kevin Owens Addresses Personal CM Punk WWE Feud, Reason Title Match Is Happening On SmackDown In Toronto
Kevin Owens explains why he chose Toronto for WWE title match against CM Punk
Kevin Owens: I Echo Grayson Waller, The Women Of NXT Are Whipping The Men’s Asses
WAW Tracker is updated as meaningful new reporting is added to the We Are Wrestling feed. Source reports can change as a story develops.
