Steve Carrier on April 5, 2025
The April 4 episode of WWE SmackDown delivered one of the most emotional moments on the road to WrestleMania 41—and now we know who made it happen behind the scenes.
According to Fightful Select, the emotional promo and surprise RKO twist were crafted by writer John Swikata and producer Shawn Daivari.
The segment went down at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, as WWE returned from an overseas tour. With WrestleMania looming, fans were already concerned about Kevin Owens’ status after news of his neck injury broke earlier in the day. By 10 PM, it was official.
SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis kicked off the second hour with a somber tone, addressing the unpredictable nature of injuries in wrestling. He then introduced Kevin Owens, who walked to the ring looking visibly emotional.
Owens didn’t hold back. “I’ve been doing this for 25 years,” he began, reflecting on his career. “I’ve given everything I have every single time I’ve stepped into the ring.” But that career came with a price—Owens revealed he needs neck surgery and will miss WrestleMania. His planned match against Randy Orton? Off the card.
“Not getting to be in the ring with Randy Orton at WrestleMania… it really sucks,” Owens told the crowd before thanking WWE for letting him speak directly to the fans. “I don’t know when I’ll be back in front of you again,” he added, earning a standing ovation and loud chants from the Chicago crowd.
After hugging Aldis, Owens exited as Orton’s music hit. Orton stepped into the ring, only to be told by Aldis that his WrestleMania match was now canceled. Fans weren’t happy—and neither was The Viper. He responded with a thunderous RKO to Aldis, ending the segment in true Orton fashion.
With John Swikata handling the emotional storytelling and Shawn Daivari producing the execution, the segment delivered drama, heart, and shock in just minutes. It’s a reminder that behind every powerful promo is a creative team pulling the strings—and this time, they nailed it.
What did you think of Kevin Owens’ emotional Smack Down moment? Should Randy Orton still get a Wrestle Mania match despite KO’s injury? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
April 5, 2025 5:45 pm
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