Kevin Owens Says Indie Wrestling Scene ‘Isn’t What It Used To Be’

Kevin Owens is getting brutally honest about the state of independent wrestling—and he’s not pretending it’s the same world he came up through.

During his appearance on What Do You Wanna Talk About? with Cody Rhodes, Owens opened up about how disconnected he feels from today’s indie scene. The former Universal Champion built his career grinding through countless independent shows, but admitted the landscape today looks completely different.

“It almost feels like there is no independent scene anymore. It’s not what it used to be. I just don’t know enough about it anymore, because it’s not like how it was when I came up. There were so many shows, so many places to work, so many people to work with that you’d hear about constantly. Now, it feels like it’s just completely different. It’s probably still great for people coming up, but it’s not the same world I came from.”

Owens’ words echo what many veterans have quietly said for years—the indie scene is still alive, but the chaos, variety, and constant buzz of the old days just isn’t there. With AEW and WWE snatching up top talent, and fewer major indie promotions making national noise, the opportunities and grind that shaped Owens’ early career aren’t as visible as they once were.

This comes as Owens continues dealing with spinal cord damage, an injury that has sidelined him indefinitely and forced him to reflect on both his career and the industry as a whole.

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