Don’t judge this book by its cover. If you did, you’d probably figure he’s just another bearded, pudgy and mean pro wrestler. Your run-of-the-mill bad guy. But Kevin Owens is far from that. He’s a charismatic talent that shines, no matter how bad the booking or opponent he’s dealt. Look at it this way — the wrestling show is the cereal and Owens is the free toy you get inside the box. You may not like the cereal but you’ll buy it to get the special prize.  

For a man who has built his name and reputation in independent wrestling for over 15 years, Owens is taking that WWE spotlight and not letting go. Every time he’s on TV, you have to turn up the volume and put down the remote. He’s so versatile and talented that he could have easily competed in any era, including Rock ‘n’ Wrestling or Attitude. He’s both hero and villain. Friend and foe. The man can get an entire arena to boo him one moment, then laugh and cheer for him the next.

Kevin Owens may not fit Vince McMahon’s prototype of what the top entertainer in his company should look like. But Vinnie Mac’s smart enough to know that KO is the talent he needs and can invest in. Owens’ popularity is booming and there’s still space on the Owens bandwagon, if you want to hop on. For those of you on the fence, here’s some reasons why you should drink the Kool-Aid.

He's a Master of the Mic

This non-PG, f-bomb filled promo from back in his Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) days, will turn you into an instant fan:

Simply put, Kevin Owens is the best mic man in the business right now. There’s nobody that can touch him. I dare you to go to YouTube and find a bad interview or promo of his. You can’t!  While his promos back in PWG or Ring of Honor (ROH) were unfiltered and edgy, he’s figured out a way to work within the kid-friendly WWE system and still cut some epic pieces. A good chunk of his success and ability to get himself over is based on how natural and entertaining he is telling a story or building a feud with his words. His sarcasm and personality is cut from the same cloth as other wordsmith’s like The Rock, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper and Chris Jericho.

The Big Fella Can Move

Owens has developed a strong repertoire of holds and maneuvers during all those years in the indies. The man has the build of a bull with the agility of a puma. Or in more practical terms, looks like a truck driver but can out run you in a sprint. He incorporates cannonballs, senton bombs and moonsaults, which is something you’d expect from a cruiserweight but not from a man Kevin’s size.

Owens can cut you down in a promo then proceed to back it up in a match. A wrestler that can work the mic and pull off an entertaining match (with more than five moves) is rare. You often get either/or, but hardly ever both.

Welcome to the Kevin Owens Show

If execs at the WWE Network want a guaranteed hit, they’d give Owens his own show or at the very least, put together a series around Kevin’s backstage interviews. We’ve mentioned this before but whether if he's trying to find a quiet spot in the back to sleep, or being startled by The Undertaker’s or The Dudley Boyz’s pyrotechnics, his off-the-cuff reactions are gold! His disdain for interviewers bothering him is also on point. Just like that time we learned KO’s not a fan of Renee Young’s “stupid” puppy, as he told her directly.

If it’s not backstage, well then maybe he can join the commentating table for either RAW or Smackdown. The man is hilarious. A standup comedian in a previous life. With his dry and perfectly timed delivery, he has viewers laughing out loud every time he’s ringside. His ongoing, one-sided feud with Michael Cole never gets old. In a matter of seconds, he can go from belittling Byron Saxton, while wearing JBL’s cowboy hat, to calling the action in the ring. He’s the gift that keeps on giving.

One day, @JCLayfield will do this to @ByronSaxton after a bad call at the table and it will be glorious. https://t.co/xTOVFx2odS

— Kevin Owens (@FightOwensFight) April 12, 2016

Owens and Jericho…Soak It In, Man

The Rock and Kevin Hart were a good pair in Central Intelligence, and if Hollywood wants another similar hit, they should turn to Kevin Owens and Chris Jericho. These two are the real surprise hit of the summer. Doesn’t matter if it’s a buddy cop movie or a straight out comedy, these sharp-tongued Canadians have a natural, entertaining dynamic. They spend as much time insulting and making each other’s lives miserable as they do attacking their opponents. Both have benefitted from working with one another. Jericho’s jokes have been sharper, harkening back to the verbal jabs of his younger days, while Owens gets to shine as he verbally spars with a great like Jericho.

A Maniacal Villain

Kevin Owens knows he’s a bad guy and loves being one. It’s as if he came straight from central casting for what a pro wrestler ‘Heel’ should look and act like. He’s The Penguin, Cobra Kai and Hans Gruber rolled into one.

He embraces the villain role during an era where most wrestlers are middle of the road. He plays the part of Bully very well. He’ll beat up and go through his best friend, Sami Zayn, to get a title shot. He’ll shame fans, ripping their signs, if he doesn’t like the response he’s getting. Stay clear of social media, as he’ll find you there as well. Sports Illustrated included him in their Social 100 List, due to his Twitter rants and blocking fans, just cause. “Fight Owens Fight” is more than a t-shirt slogan for him. It’s his life’s mantra.