On October 5, 2020, during WWE Raw’s broadcast from the Amway Center’s ThunderDome in Orlando, FL, Kevin Owens took the spotlight on The Kevin Owens KO Show with a tense and unsettling confrontation. Owens opened by acknowledging the ominous influence Bray Wyatt’s alter ego, The Fiend, has had on him in recent days. Rejecting any pretense of a friendly talk, Owens discarded his customary chairs and sign, signaling a darker turn for the segment. The KO Show, his eponymous platform, became the stage for a chilling exchange illustrating his mental and emotional turmoil under The Fiend’s shadow. Owens referred to the segment as a “demonic Mr. Rogers reboot,” highlighting the twisted, eerie nature of his interaction with Wyatt’s surreal character.
The exchange between Owens and Bray Wyatt unfolded with ominous symbolism and eerie visuals. Wyatt appeared on the screen with a haunting smile and an unsettling wave, calling Owens “his new friend” while mentioning childhood innocence twisted into macabre scenarios. He made light of the strange companionship through references to finger painting, sleepovers, and even
“burying a body together in the woods.”
Owens reacted with wary defiance, declaring they could have been friends but are now adversaries due to Wyatt’s attack on him the previous Friday. Bray’s response, warning Owens that he
“has no idea what he got himself into,”
promised an intense escalation during the upcoming SmackDown episode that Friday.
As the segment closed, Owens declared he would not wait until Friday to face The Fiend and sought him out immediately, only to be ambushed by Aleister Black with a Black Mass attack. This moment intensified Owens’s predicament, situating The Kevin Owens KO Show at the center of a psychological and physical battle against darkness within the WWE universe.
Escalating Rivalry Between Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton
A parallel intense storyline developed with Drew McIntyre and Randy Orton, who dramatically traded verbal and physical blows backstage and in the ring. Orton recounted the brutal moments after the ambulance match filled with legendary WWE figures, describing the darkness and pain he endured. Using night vision goggles, Orton illustrated hunting down each attacker, delivering his brand of retribution. He issued a direct challenge to McIntyre for a Hell in a Cell match, framing it as a career-defining opportunity to cement legacy. This challenge ignited a violent backstage brawl where McIntyre overwhelmed Orton with forceful punches and shoved him against a wall, shouting,
“What do you know about hell?!”
before officials intervened.
The intense hostility set the stage for their imminent pay-per-view showdown, illustrating how deeply personal and physically demanding this feud had become. McIntyre later reinforced his resolve during a backstage interview with Charly Caruso, stating firmly to Orton,
“I’m not locked inside the Cell with you, you’re locked inside the Cell with Drew McIntyre. I’m not sending you to purgatory; I’m sending you straight to hell.”
Key Matches and Backstage Tensions Highlight WWE Raw’s Second Hour
The second hour of Raw featured several pivotal matches and backstage disputes that heightened the evening’s tension. Braun Strowman and Keith Lee faced off in an unsanctioned exhibition match, showcasing two powerhouse athletes circling each other with mutual respect before the brawl escalated into a wild fight ending in a double count-out. Their confrontation spilled beyond the ring, culminating in a brutal attack offstage, demonstrating their intense rivalry despite the short match duration.
In tag team action, Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, alongside manager MVP, took on Ricochet and Apollo Crews, with Mustafa Ali also involved. The Hurt Business faction, led vocally by MVP, dominated, isolating Ricochet and eventually forcing submission with Lashley’s Hurt Lock finisher. Ali’s attitude toward MVP and Hurt Business remained contentious backstage, hinting at brewing conflicts.
The dynamics among Seth Rollins, Murphy, and the Mysterio family provided another layer of dramatic intensity. Following a video package that recapped previous family tensions, Seth demanded an apology from his disciple Murphy over a complicated personal issue involving Aaliyah Mysterio. Their confrontation erupted into a physical altercation inside and outside the ring. Murphy’s refusal to apologize led to a brutal sequence where Seth used a kendo stick against him, causing a chaotic scene involving family members Dominic and Aaliyah Mysterio, Rey Mysterio, and others, who expressed disbelief and frustration over the violent fallout.
Women’s Tag Team Champions Defend Titles Amidst Fierce Competition
The Women’s Tag Team Championship match featured Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler defending their titles against The Riott Squad’s Ruby Riott and Liv Morgan. The match was marked by aggressive physicality and calculated teamwork. Baszler’s focus on Riott’s arm, including targeted stomps and applying the Kirafuda Clutch submission maneuver, ultimately forced a tapout. Despite Riott’s efforts and Morgan’s participation after the break, Baszler and Jax retained their belts, continuing their dominance in the division.
Retribution’s Shocking Infiltration Changes Alliances
A major twist occurred when Mustafa Ali appeared to join the heel faction Retribution. During a match between MVP and Ali, Retribution’s members surrounded the ring, casting an unsettling atmosphere. Ali’s sudden alignment with them was confirmed when he ordered Retribution to attack Hurt Business members Lashley, Benjamin, and MVP, creating confusion among the announcers and fans alike. The segment left many questioning whether Ali’s role was a heel turn or if Retribution had been misunderstood in the past. This reveal elevated Ali’s status significantly, positioning him as a central figure in ongoing faction warfare within WWE.
Main Event: Randy Orton’s Team Prevails Against The Street Profits and Drew McIntyre
The night’s main event was a six-man tag team match pitting Randy Orton, Dolph Ziggler, and Robert Roode against The Street Profits (Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins) and Drew McIntyre. The match opened with McIntyre aggressively targeting Roode and Ziggler. Orton attempted a surprise RKO, but McIntyre countered successfully. The back-and-forth action showcased high-impact maneuvers, near falls, and strategic teamwork, culminating in Orton hitting a decisive RKO on McIntyre to secure the pinfall for his team.
Despite Orton’s team winning, this outcome heightened anticipation for the Hell in a Cell match between McIntyre and Orton, as it demonstrated Orton’s capability to pin the WWE Champion in a non-title bout, intensifying their rivalry.
Significance of The Kevin Owens KO Show and WWE Raw Developments
The Kevin Owens KO Show segment and the surrounding WWE Raw storylines reflected a meticulously curated narrative of tension, psychological intrigue, and physical confrontation. Owens’s characterization as a man caught between his own vulnerabilities and The Fiend’s sinister influence enhances the urgency and despair permeating the program. This portrayal underscores how mental and emotional struggles are integral to storytelling in contemporary pro wrestling, contributing depth beyond athletic competition.
The escalating feud between McIntyre and Orton carries the potential to culminate in a definitive climax at the Hell in a Cell event, promising high drama and physical intensity that fans eagerly anticipate. The factional complexities involving Hurt Business, Retribution, and individual allegiances, particularly Mustafa Ali’s controversial turn, add layers of unpredictability to future WWE narratives.
With the dramatic clashes among heavyweight wrestlers like Braun Strowman and Keith Lee, as well as the familial turmoil among Seth Rollins, Murphy, and the Mysterios, WWE Raw establishes a multifaceted landscape of conflict and resolution. These storylines, combined with the KO Show’s unsettling atmosphere, ensure continued viewer engagement and set the stage for consequential pay-per-view showdowns and character arcs heading into the upcoming months.
