Kevin Owens has already gone straight to Triple H for advice about life after wrestling. While a serious neck injury left his WWE career hanging by a thread, Owens revealed that he asked Triple H how he knew it was time to leave the ring and move behind the scenes.
Owens recently returned after nearly 17 months away, but there was no guarantee that doctors would ever clear him. During an appearance on the Toronto Sun’s No Holds Barred, he admitted the situation forced him to seriously consider what he would do if his in-ring career was over. For Owens, completely walking away from professional wrestling was never an attractive option. He believes he could still bring plenty to WWE even after his days as an active wrestler come to an end.
“I did have to face what I would do if I couldn’t get back in the ring. Obviously, staying in wrestling is the most important thing for me because I really can’t imagine myself doing anything else.”
Owens said his interest in working behind the curtain did not suddenly begin after the neck injury. He had already been trying to learn more about WWE’s backstage operation before surgery became part of the equation.
“I think I have a lot to offer behind the scenes. This was well before my surgery or this injury, anyway. I always tried to get involved and learn other sides of what we do and the behind-the-scenes stuff. I always had an interest in it.”
Once Owens was forced to confront the possibility that he might never wrestle again, a backstage transition started looking far more real. That led him to Triple H, who went through the same brutal process after his own in-ring career ended.
“There was that part of me that thought, ‘Well, maybe it’ll be time to transition to that.’ I’ve spoken to Triple H about how he knew that he was ready to transition to an almost full-time behind-the-scenes role as opposed to being in the ring. Again, this was well before my surgery.”
Owens knows the clock is moving whether he likes it or not. He still believes he has several good years left, but he isn’t pretending that his career can continue forever.
“We can’t kid ourselves either. We’re not getting younger. There’s only one way this is going. While I do feel like I still have several good years left in me, you have to be conscious of that.”
The neck injury pushed Owens to explore other possibilities as well. When it appeared his comeback might never happen, he hired an acting agent and began looking at work outside WWE.
“When things looked like they might not go the way I wished and I might not be able to get back in the ring, I started exploring other avenues that I thought I could have an interest in. I got an agent for some acting gigs, maybe. I did some in Quebec back home.”
Owens also considered buying land and opening a rescue for animals once his wrestling career ended.
“I love animals, and rescuing animals would be something I’d love to do when I’m able to step away from the ring. Trying to have land, rescue some animals and give them a place to live—stuff like that.”
Those plans are on hold now that Owens is back inside a WWE ring, but the conversation with Triple H shows he has already started preparing for the day when his body finally tells him it is over.
“I guess it’s going to have to wait because I’m back for now.”
Owens isn’t ready to hang up his boots, but he clearly sees a future for himself inside WWE after his final match. Learning directly from Triple H could put him in position to become an important voice behind the curtain when that time comes.
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