Backstage news regarding the situation with Kevin Owens needing surgery due to a neck injury

As seen during the April 4th 2025 edition of WWE Smackdown, it was revealed that Randy Orton vs. Kevin Owens for WWE WrestleMania 41 has been canceled due to Owens needing neck surgery. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com, the injury is 100% legitimate and there is no word regarding if and when Owens will return.

Johnson noted the following…

“One WWE source described the situation as ‘awful’, noting that Owens is expected to get surgery as he mentioned in the promo. Another source said the word among talents tonight was that Owens was looking at fusion surgery in the future. For those who have asked if the announcement was a work, the reaction among those we’ve spoken to in the company has been sympathy and sadness for Owens, not that this was storyline.”