Jim Cornette on Kevin Owens' Contract

From Episode 531 of the Jim Cornette Experience
Guest Artist: George Livanidis ( / georgelivs )
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[@AlexanderMacAoidh]

Kevin Owen’s in WWE: had a Mania main event match with Stone Cold Steve Austin Kevin Steen in AEW: working a half empty Collision taping against Lance Archer

[@micahjohnsonboxing6409]

He jobbed out to a 58 year old.

[@jamalljordan309]

@@micahjohnsonboxing6409 to the wrestler he looked up too you telling me you wouldn’t lose to sting in his final days

[@yourmutha9420]

But guys, he'll walk out to his ROH music, and I'll totally mark out, bro😱😩😩😫😫

[@californiansniper2133]

⁠@@micahjohnsonboxing6409 he also main evented wrestlemania last year , better then AEW

[@sheasheagaming1660]

@@micahjohnsonboxing6409Just your basic job to a 58 year old right? What a burial. How will KO ever rebound?

[@kidvillain188]

I have to give respect to Owens. He had a chance to leave WWE when they were at their worst and go to AEW when they were at their hottest but decided to stay and it turned out better for him. Same can be said about Sami too

[@HPLovesCraftsCat]

no one cares about ko

[@qdg.productions]

@@HPLovesCraftsCat according to whom? He’s been a mainstayer for the WWE for a decade and the WWE audience has appreciated his work throughout his tenure.

[@jakobsrensen1684]

@@HPLovesCraftsCat dude might not be number 1 that dont mean we dont appreciate a stable top tenner

[@1KQ_]

And to pay him back for his efforts they allowed him to bring stone cold out of retirement for a match at mania, very happy for Kevin.

[@taltagteamchamps]

​@@HPLovesCraftsCat I'm not a fan of him but I wouldn't say no cares about him

[@polaris6644]

He got to wrestle Austin in what is now his final match, I think most people would stay loyal to the end just for getting that opportunity.

[@nickonite]

Just like AJ getting Taker. Just like Cody and Seth main eventing Mania alongside The Rock.

[@rajakghosh6602]

Aew is where careers go to die. Kevin ain't leaving WWE. He still has 10 good years to give here.

[@johnnymedrano7081]

Kevin would be foolish to even bother to go to AEW. It would instantly kill his career.

[@jmsnrs716]

Could be 15 or more years honestly. He doesn't have to kill himself taking dangerous bumps all of the time like he did in the indies and what would be expected of him in AEW.

[@bash8387]

He had a chance to go to aew 5 years ago but he steyed with wwe

[@micahjohnsonboxing6409]

Here? Man you marks are pathetic.

[@matthewhostetter8974]

KO isn't leaving and neither is Becky. I know SRS and Fightful keep saying her contract is up in 3 weeks but they wouldn't have put the title on her again if she wasn't already re-signing or staying.

[@JDotWill]

Paul ain’t letting Kevin leave. Kevin is one of his guys

[@PHILD0]

Exactly. Have we forgotten that ceremonial Universal title handover from HHH to KO!?

[@spsawyer22]

Sami is one of his guys too. Basically if you watched NXT during HHH's run as booker you can tell which guys he really got behind.

[@QAZ-OMEN]

I still remember Trips turning on Seth and crowning KO the WWE champion years ago.

[@deejayguppy6087]

​@@QAZ-OMENUniversal. KO never won the WWE strap.

[@QAZ-OMEN]

@@deejayguppy6087 Thanks. I didn't fact-check that.

[@QuackMamba34]

Kevin Owens last contract negotiations were easy. Vince "We want to re-sign you to a new contract." Kevin "Idk, I'm thinking about going some where else. I can be better utilized Vince "I'll give you a Wrestlemania main even match against Stone Cold Steve Austin." Kevin "Give me a pen."

[@spsawyer22]

Seriously...guy fought SCSA in Austin's first match in 20 years (and ostensibly his last match) and then won the tag team titles with his RL best friend in the main event of WMNight 1 the next year.

[@Guerilla_Jack]

Kevin will stay.

[@SteelSunday]

As long as Sami Zayn remains

[@MattCates69420]

I saw him at a truck stop in St. Augustine, FL. I was too caught off guard to go up and talk to him but he noticed i recognized him and seemed very approachable if i wanted to say something.

[@RickySpanish-hc2hw]

Im not the biggest KO fan. That being said, he has a family to consider and a grown adult puts their family first. Hes constantly working with top level midcard or main event players. Hes in a great spot as a talent and im sure hes making great money. Vince is gone and AEW is just an embarrassment to wrestling.

[@walterspencer7524]

It speaks volume that Kevin initially was willing to go to AEW but has changed his stance after 4 years of AEW existence

[@Pupsterization122]

Unlike the other Indy brainwashed wrestlers, sami and owens don’t have the desire to play with their friends from roseda

[@WarGhoulKharas]

Reseda.

[@vinceraven1501]

Because they're veterans of the older school style & not the high school style gym class style of the California Raisins.

[@Justin-bo5pg]

WWE has made KO a made man. He's a top guy, he's a main event guy. The schedule isn't as grueling as it was so he can go home and see his family. Unless he just wants to go hang out in a circle jerk with The Bucks there's no reason for him to leave.

[@imsljr420]

How are the Bucks jerks? That's just part of the show.

[@Justin-bo5pg]

@imsljr420 I believe you're confused about the expression circle jerk.

[@Christian.J_hXc]

There is less suspense here than a plumber moxley exhibition

[@WarGhoulKharas]

AEW may be where all of his friends are, but he isn't that stupid.

[@maxpayne7312]

And he still has Sami there, Randy and Kevin have become friends

[@TFSRogue-oq8vp]

KO would rather wrestle Stone Cold at wrestlemainia then cosplay Stone Cold with the children in AEW...

[@tydance8865]

tbh i don't see the hype in KO

[@marvellegends_uk]

I feel like his universal title run was very underrated. We didn't maybe know what we had at the time. Also his son is over 6'6 by all accounts, the Rey and Dom of the future. Surely he's a lifer with wwe at this point? 🙂

[@Bale4Bond]

The one that turned into a clown-show with Jericho halfway through?

[@MattKeller]

He is friends with Kenny and the buckaroos so I'd never say it's a sure thing he is a lifer but he should avoid AEW like the plague it is

[@alexfromsolitude]

last picture I saw of Owen Steen he was even thicker than his father and wearing glasses. I wouldn't bet on him being interested in becoming a wrestler. And good for him! Careers don't need to be hereditary.

[@marvellegends_uk]

@alexfromsolitude That's very true, doesn't have to be hereditary. The interview I saw with Kev before the Aussie show, he said his son wanted to pursue a career in (American) football but he hoped that he'd still get the wrestling bug.

[@Ted_Bell]

One of the worst title runs in history. Jericho had to carry him. Horrible WrestleMania match.

[@TheFailedmessiah]

After his match with stonecold at WM. How do you top that? I thought he'd go to aew for a bag and play with his friends. But he didn't. Respect.

[@realrobrose]

We are way past the point of WWE main event guys even slightly possibly leaving. AEW got Edge cause they have the guy he came out of retirement to work with, and Mercedes Mone chose not to return to the place she quit in anger. What other big names have any reason to not want to sign with WWE?

[@marvinleong5902]

Actually Mercedes herself said, she wants to go back to WWE at some point and Tony threw too much money at her so she can't say no, but her end goal is back to WWE so I wouldn't include Mercedes

[@benespinosa6725]

Hopefully kevin owens re-signs with WWE i just don't see him leaving WWE he's been there for 10-years plus he's happy to be in WWE the current product is on fire triple h is in-charge of Creative why would kevin leave i can't see that happening anytime soon.

[@positively_broad_st3780]

I believe AJ Styles' contract is up in a few months as well. Last time he re-upped he said he was going to retire at the end of his deal. I don't think he'll retire though...

[@wyn0342]

Hes been in some big Wrestlemania matches against Jericho, Rollins, Shane McMahon and Daniel Bryan and even got a mtch against Stone Cold. He's main evented one Wrestlemania Night and won the Tag Championship with Zayn and was in a Triple Threat with Orton. Hes a star in WWE. Not saying he wouldn't be a top star at AEW but he doesn't need that cancer.

[@marvinleong5902]

He was one of Taker last opponents in MSG back in 2018, that memory that he would cherish forever if not fit signing with WWE

[@christopheramaro333]

"no plans to leave on own accord" = if i leave it's because i wasnt offered the heightened terms i wanted but if i word it like this, and dont end up signing, they'll look like bad guys for not resigning me because people will perceive they didnt want me. Clever

[@szczesciejestkoloruczarneg749]

George Livanidis' artwork is fitting 😄

[@bb-ballistics1706]

It's not a great negotiation tactic to tell the company you work for that you don't want to leave... That's not exactly going to get extra money offered to you for resigning.

[@joemixon1704]

When he signed that last contract they've had him to work with Steve Austin he's been in the main event another wrestlemania with his best friend and now he just had one of the bigger events with Randy Orton and Logan Paul Who's he gonna work with the AEW the Bucks pockets??? LOL

[@JohnMcVay1]

JC said “Things were a lot more prolapsed in the WWE [when VKM ran it] than they are now.” Prolapsed. LOLOL! 🤣🤣🤣

[@justmarcus33]

KO has been in WWE longer than his time in PWG and ROH combined. Sure he came from the indies, but like he said last time his contract came up... he likes the people he works with, he is featured on the biggest shows in all of pro wrestling, he's living his dream, he's having his dream matches already (he'd just wrestled Austin at Mania) and he's well paid, why would he leave. It would be one thing if he was sitting in catering but KO has been featured for most of his WWE career

[@Bulletno]

KO is a Paul Levesque guy!

[@mjdf122]

Kevin Steen and El Generico are going back to ROH 😂

[@IAEMThatIAEM]

I love how everybody just bashes AEW, not realizing most of the major AEW moves happened with the real Career killer Vince McMahon was running the show.

[@moopert86]

While I do think he'll end up getting a lot of money to stay with WWE, Jim has also said back when he was in ROH Steen said he would never leave there no matter how much money was offered.

[@Ai14106]

Let's see... working with the Bloodline or working with Kyle Fletcher

[@SamuraiJack99-uc3pz]

I don't know why Kevin has xpac heat with me. I can't seem to care about anything he does. He had a match with steve austin at mania that most people forgot about the very next day. I remember fans would fantasy book Austin's return for years. But was rather underwhelming at the end. I remember Steve stunning Macafee and Vince more than that match with Owens. But credit to him for having a successful career being an upper mid card placeholder and a main event afterthought.

[@FresnoCA93727]

I can’t imagine KO not being in WWE. He’s WWE for life.

[@MisterMason66]

This is a no brainer. Just give him 4 years and 8 to 10 million. He's actually worth it.

[@renafan3333]

Better chance of him leaving now with Son In Law in charge of creative. Makes Tony Khan look like Bill Watts in comparison.

[@Handle_Needs_3_Or_More_Charact]

I lol'd.

[@Cultofpersonality09129]

Hannibal seeing this and punching air!!! I will give Jericho credit he did help KO stay in the upper midcard. He’s a good dude give him his bag.

[@SirCrazyPretzel]

Unless Tony Klown pays Kevin Owens double or triple what he is making in WWE, I don't think he would leave the company.

[@ksdnsdkumar1375]

I remember last time he extended his contract with WWE because, as he says, he can stay close to his family

[@gothard5]

I wonder if anybody in AEW is saying "I really didn't come here of my own accord. Please don't say i'm damned for all time" lol

[@tatvela6915]

KO will rent an Accord instead of using his own

[@marvinleong5902]

KO is one of the few indies guy that Vince likes and was featured on almost weekly TV and PLE. He was Stone Cold first opponent in 19 years, that the trust that WWE have for him to be Austin opponent and headline back to back Wrestlemania main event. Why would he leave all of that just to join his friend the Buckaroo where he might no be on TV after the Buckaroo stuff ends

[@W__it]

When he says "on his own accord" it could mean that if AEW offers him an absurd amount of money, even more than WWE, and if WWE don't match it... well, he wouldn't leave on his own accord, ultimately it would be WWE that didn't pay him what he wanted and so he "had" to leave

[@OTJ8995]

Kevin and Sami have their career paths for the next 15 years set in WWE. When the time comes to step down from the main roster, they’ll go back to NXT under some kind of “veterans” deal where they act as player/coaches to newer stars. They’ll make great money, taking less bumps until they fully transition into trainer roles. Option 2 is, they go to AEW in their 40s and try to live up to what they did in ROH in their 20s. That scenario wouldn’t work out well for Owens and Zayn or AEW.

[@jfdrac]

Unless they are fired NO ONE is leaving WWE at this point that is in the top

[@Ali-cv5ng]

I think anyone would be loyal to the company that allowed them to wrestle Stone Cold in the main event of Wrestlemania

[@-Trauma.]

All they have to do is show him and anybody else, what Edge has been up to in AEW 😂

[@mrowley7300]

If KO was gonna leave it would've while AEW was hot in 2021, I don't see him leaving

[@thejoshandcharles1]

If the WWE still wants him, then he's staying. I cant see KO leaving the rocketship for the submarine.

[@vicm490]

One thing is being Indie minded and other one is being stupid.

[@ashleyburns6752]

Kevin Owens & Chubby Kingston would be a good team, the Fat Pack, The Midnight Snack Express, The Lardy Boyz, and so on.

[@DarthHemis]

The Lardy Boys is hilarious

[@welowee7610]

KO a lot more believable wrestler than Eddie skinny Fat Kingston

[@ebransc09]

The Rock & Jelly Roll Express

[@ironuzi7112]

@ashleyburnd6752 at least no can wrestle. Burger Kingston is one of the worst modern wrestlers

[@TheWeissman]

if you went from Main Eventing WrestleMania against Stone Cold to All Elite Wrestling. You couldn't have a bigger fall from grace man

[@PatD83]

"'And I really can't imagine anywhere else in the world that would pay me even a remotely fraction of the money that they're paying me right now besides AEW.'" I mean, this is true, but from the way Cornette says it, it kind of sounds like he thinks this is uniquely true for Steen. But isn't EVERYBODY in WWE making significantly more than they could make almost anywhere else in wrestling, besides AEW, where the sensible ones don't WANT to work?

[@JS-td7gs]

AKA I expect to get paid more.

[@jamesd4223]

Stuff like this makes me wonder about AEW’s future big name prospects. Guys like Owens are much more likely to stick with WWE now and the Japan well is drying up. It seems like there are less guys on the one last run/retirement aspect too. If Guys like MJF, Swerve, etc don’t jump ship then they could really bump up their pay.

[@carloslozada470]

Owens is good

[@matthewhostetter8974]

KO isn't leaving the WWE, they made him a bigger star than she ever would have been. I know he has lots of friends in AEW, but he made a career in the WWE. Just like Drew, Seth and Balor re-signed so will him. Hell, they keep saying Becky's contract is up in 3 weeks, you know damn well she isn't leaving the WWE either. Unless Manure Moans couldn't cut it in the WWE, Becky knows who helped make her a star and household name.

[@ladyScorpiofourtwnty]

Kevin Owens... Is a cool dude

[@greenraider44]

This sounds more like they have no interest in re signing him and he may have to leave because WWE don’t want to resign him

[@Apocalypse3434]

I hope KO gets another title run before he is done. Getting squashed by Oldberg was the worst thing WWE ever did with him.

[@joshmulligan950]

Dude had a main event mania match with SCSA, why the f would he go to AEW

[@vinceraven1501]

He'll stay, but, probably on a reduced schedule as he's talked about his body being banged up for a while now.

[@Matt-cr4vv]

Can’t see anything besides some stupid amount of money being offered at making that jump the tiniest bit enticing. Kevin had his time working the smaller promotions with his friends and the “creative freedom” that allowed him to do whatever he wanted. Maybe you could entertain it if AEW was booming but they’re doing the polar opposite right now while the WWE is exploding and he’s been in some really high level and he’s obviously already making more money than he probably ever dreamed he’d ever make. With Vince gone and Triple H heading the show, a manageable work schedule compared to a prior era, booming business and a likely future role there with Triple H leading the charge once he’s done wrestling it’s hard to even try to make a case for why he’d even consider a move for anything other than Tony throwing such a gigantic amount of money that is absurd to a level that you couldn’t turn it down. Like Tony offering 2-3x what the WWE would be offering but the WWE will lock it down before Tony can even have a chance to make such an offer. As many have commented if he didn’t make the jump and signed an extension in December 2021 when they’d recently landed Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole and were doing way better business and had immensely higher optimism of their future when WWE was in a low period then there’s no chance he’s jumping from WWE breaking records to join an AEW on the decline with arenas that are half full at best.

[@ethanellis2896]

All his friends are in AEW... but he knows better

[@cStatE95]

Owens was the indie who adapted to mainstream wrestling. Dont care about him besides his theme but he is smart for adapting

[@ichneumon2776]

He main evented Wrestlemania with f**king Stone Cold Steve Austin one year. The next year he main evented Wrestlemania again with his best friend and won the Tag Titles. Why would he want to leave?

[@growupgreg]

While I do believe KO has gotten a little stale lately, I don’t think KO will leave the WWE. He was my favorite wrestler when he showed up in NXT and hit the main roster hot as fish grease when he challenged Cena. Here lately he’s just another guy to me. I wouldn’t mind him taking a little time off and returning as a nasty heel like he used to be. With that said….. I don’t watch AEW at all but KO is the kind of guy that would probably thrive in that environment if they didn’t screw him up with shitty booking like they have everyone else they brought in. I don’t agree with people that say he wouldn’t go there now bc they aren’t as hot as before. WCW was in the toilet when Hall & Nash left the WWF to go there. At the end of the day money talks. Unfortunately!

[@TheManOfTheHourEveryHour]

Leave Owens Leave 😂😂😂

[@LordChrome375]

There is no reason for him to leave. WWE is in the best place it’s ever been for a while. Sure he could go to AEW to fade into the abyss. Or he could go to TNA and just not make a lot of money to work with people he doesn’t know lol

[@robertnapier624]

KO needs to just keep fighting in wwe.

[@user-mh6mw6jn4h]

KO is valuable. Even after his active carreer he could have a great second life on commentary

[@henrygvidonas9573]

Maybe on the French commentary team...

[@greghuffman3061]

Poor aew

[@imverygerby]

Kevin’s dream was to be in wwe he ain’t leaving he’s a lifer

[@Zypresse78]

Yea i really think now that WWE is on fire and AEW is.. well existing. He should 100% go to AEW and change the wrestling world

[@CallMeCrazyCallMePoor]

Kevin is one of those guys who has been as a draw by every booker who has had him, including Jim and Vince.

[@maxpayne7312]

I think he’ll end his career in WWE, he’s already spent 10 years there why not spend another few more years in WWE then call it a day and have a backstage role/become a trainer or be part of the creative team

[@randi_godspeed2063]

Glad he wants to stay, only “competition” can’t do anything for him. Except destroy his career & legacy. I like KO in the ring, when he feels it, he’s a good worker. His next level would be to deliver even when he doesn’t. One of the differences between OG’s & now.

[@DrGaslight187]

I really dislike KO’s matches so I really hope he goes to AEW where he belongs. He’s only worth a damn in WWE when he’s a heel and even then his matches still suck ass.

[@Ted_Bell]

Kevin Owens "I don't wanna be replaced by C.M Punk."

[@akamiguelsanchez9985]

AEW weirdos are so obnoxious that they just expect to sign Steen.

[@BrickFighter13]

Kevin can either be smart and stay with the WWE for the long run til he retires and deal with the fact that “okay, I’m working with Punk, I don’t like him but I’m willing to work with him to make bank.” Or, make the dumbest decision of his career and go to AEW to simply be with his idiot friends The Bucks and likely be apart of their stupid group and stick it up to Punk.

[@robertnapier624]

Like Punk said after he returned the raw after survivor series “I’m not here to make friends, I’m here to make money”. So too is KO. Here to make money, not friends.

[@gurpritbhaker3365]

Steen!

[@QAZ-OMEN]

WWE would be absolutely be foolish to let KO go. All the piled up injuries, and the fact he can literally do anything they want him to, greatly. They need to resign him

[@hollywood21639]

I wish he would leave so i don't have to see him covering his gut up with a T-shirt.

[@aryan0111]

I don't like Kevin Owens that much. Find him quite overrated and one dimensional.

[@DB3XVI]

Like Stone Cold?

[@aryan0111]

@DB3XVI Austin and Kevin are no way similar IMO. Austin was the top guy during his time. KO is just a second fiddle or mid carder at best.

[@DB3XVI]

I didn't like Steve Austin that much, I found him quite overrated and extremely one-dimensional.

[@frostedbutts4340]

@@DB3XVI I found him shallow and pedantic.

[@olvacron22]

eh I mean these are wrestlers, they're known for making horrible career decisions. After Edge proved how much of an idiot he really is by going to aew I don't put it past any of these morons to leave. I still think McIntyre is gonna fall for the "Punk is evil" bs the bucks are pushing, remember Drew spent his entire indy run crying about wwe being evil.

[@Bale4Bond]

I can totally see him going to AEW. He is at that point of his WWE career where he will never really be a Main Eventer anymore, due to all the others stars they have.

[@CecilioSprayetti]

Better to be a mid carder of the biggest promotion in the world than a top guy in a clown show

[@DaggerPrince]

@@CecilioSprayetti yea just look at what happened to Edge. i doubt Owens would want to turn himself into a complete joke that nobody cares about anymore like that.

[@qdg.productions]

@@DaggerPrince Edge wanted to go to AEW regardless of the state of that company because he wanted to work with Christian. Whether it would affect his legacy would be irrelevant given that most WWE fans don’t really have AEW on their radar anymore. So all power to Edge for finessing Tony Khan.

[@coryfusting9294]

He headlined nights at Wrestlemania 38 and 39. I think he'll stick around.

[@jimmyvolakis5194]

Kevin Steen to AEW! ❤

[@MultiBlack17]

I think Kevin Owens would've made the most impact in AEW out of anybody cuz he can have a great match with basically everybody. He's a combo of Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley with the brain of Triple H or Randy Orton and the athleticism of a smaller Vader. All that time he spent in ROH and WWE could've worked perfectly for AEW if done correctly.

[@kp-wp8tx]

Go, Kevin, Go--Someplace else!

[@Chaz4543]

Kevin Owens is everything wrong with modern WWE. Just a boring regular guy with no flash or flair. WWE superstars used to be special back when Vince McMahon was more creative and invested.

[@theaterthug7]

I wish he would leave, he's so average

[@tripvic7629]

I hate KO, hope he goes to AEW

[@Loe_Jist]

KO won't leave. He loves the spotlight and he got the ONLY "match" that Steve Austin has done since his retirement in 2003. He may be fat, slow, and have the face of a chubby 7 year old, but he's not stupid.

[@user-yk7vd5st8d]

So what if he leaves youll all turn on him so? You wwe supermarks are ridiculous

[@gurpritbhaker3365]

Support… Wrestle…talk!

[@robbymarton74]

👎🏽

[@ladyScorpiofourtwnty]

The channel. The UK Dude's I am subbed too it And Simon Miller

[@jessewahwah]

Jim sounds intelligent................. And then you find out he voted for Joe Biden and you realize he knows wrestling and nothing else............

[@chalkbodyoutline]

Amazing he can't understand politics is a work