Kevin Owens is set to make his first public appearance since March as the newly appointed grand marshal for the NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona. This announcement comes as Owens remains sidelined from <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE due to a neck injury that required surgery earlier this year, marking a notable return outside his usual wrestling engagements.
Owens’ WWE Hiatus and Impact on Scheduled Matches
Owens has been absent from WWE television since he revealed the necessity for neck surgery in March, following an injury sustained during a match in January. His hiatus led to the cancellation of his highly anticipated WrestleMania 41 match against Randy Orton. With Owens unavailable, Orton shifted focus by issuing an open challenge at WrestleMania that was answered by TNA World Champion Joe Hendry.
Rey Mysterio’s Withdrawal and Owens’ Replacement Role
Rey Mysterio, a WWE Hall of Famer, was originally designated as the grand marshal for the upcoming NASCAR race but had to withdraw due to injury. Although Mysterio remains out of competitive action, he has made recent appearances at WWE Worlds Collide and AAA TripleMania XXXIII. Owens’ appointment as grand marshal effectively replaces Mysterio, marking Owens’ first public role since announcing his injury on SmackDown earlier this year.
JUST ANNOUNCED – Kevin Owens will be replacing Rey Mysterio as the grand marshal for Saturday’s NASCAR Coke Zero Sugar 400 race at Daytona pic.twitter.com/3zBWDPGpLm
— WrestleTalk (@WrestleTalk_TV) August 22, 2025
Significance of Owens’ Return and What to Watch Next
This NASCAR grand marshal role provides Kevin Owens an important platform during his WWE recovery period, keeping him visible to fans despite his wrestling ring absence. His participation highlights his ongoing presence in the sports entertainment world and signals potential future involvement once he fully recovers. Fans and followers of Owens and WWE will likely watch closely for updates on his rehabilitation and eventual return to in-ring action.
