WWE has dismissed a proposed storyline involving Kevin Owens winning the Undisputed Championship at the Elimination Chamber pay-per-view event, according to internal sources and reports. The contested idea, which gained attention from the WWE Unreal docuseries, was never seriously considered due to concerns over its impact on WrestleMania‘s main event lineup.
Insight into the Rejected Proposal for Owens’ Championship Victory
During a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, journalist Dave Meltzer provided details surrounding the debated pitch for Kevin Owens to claim the WWE World Title. Meltzer revealed that while several story ideas featured in WWE Unreal had authenticity, this particular concept stood apart. The suggestion originated from Brian Gewirtz, a close collaborator with The Rock, but inside sources confirmed the company had little interest in exploring it.
The key issue stemmed from the fact that Owens capturing the title at the Elimination Chamber would alter the highly anticipated WrestleMania main event from the planned Cody Rhodes versus John Cena match. Meltzer expressed skepticism that Gewirtz himself seriously intended the idea, emphasizing the improbability of replacing Rhodes with Owens in the show’s biggest spotlight.
“Well, I mean, I can’t say complete bullsh*t, although I was told complete bullsh*t was the idea that they were considering Cody Rhodes losing the title to Kevin Owens at the Elimination Chamber. Because when I heard that, okay, that was Brian Gewirtz‘s idea, and I thought, like, well, he may have come up with that suggestion, but there’s no way that that was considered. Because, like, you’re going to change the main event from Cody Rhodes versus John Cena, in any form, whether it’s two babyfaces or whatever, to John Cena versus Kevin Owens? I mean, just on the surface of that, there’s no way. There’s no way Brian Gewirtz even suggests that.”
—Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
Meltzer further explained the storyline narrative where Rhodes rejects an offer from The Rock, prompting The Great One to challenge Owens, who was already involved in a storyline with Cody, to win the championship instead. This scenario would have prevented John Cena from taking a heel turn, which WWE was counting on to produce a significant twist. According to Meltzer, a shift from Rhodes to Owens in the WrestleMania main event would dramatically reduce the match’s appeal and disrupt WWE’s intended buildup.
Potential Consequences of Changing the WrestleMania Main Event
Meltzer suggested that if the pitch had moved forward, it would reveal a misunderstanding of WrestleMania’s significance, especially regarding the matchup magnitude between Cody Rhodes and John Cena versus Kevin Owens and Cena. He highlighted how the former pairing—despite both being babyface characters—represented a far bigger draw than the latter option.
He underscored WWE’s fortunate circumstance when Owens was sidelined with a neck injury, which prevented any potential implementation of this idea. Meltzer shared his personal opinion about the concept, drawing on information from reliable sources who also viewed the pitch negatively.
“So I see that, and I just go, like, well, either Brian has no conception of the magnitude of WrestleMania, that you would take away Cody Rhodes. Because even if Cody Rhodes and John Cena is babyface versus babyface, it’s a much bigger match than babyface John Cena going for 17 against Kevin Owens. And they’re really lucky. You know, if they were, and you know, of course, Kevin didn’t even make WrestleMania because of the neck injury. But I just saw that and I just thought, I can’t say it’s bullsh*t, but it’s a terrible idea. And then I was told it was kind of bullsh*t.”
—Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
His statement reflects backstage opinions that the proposed storyline would have been a serious misstep and could have diminished WrestleMania’s event stature. The pitch’s rejection showcases WWE’s efforts to protect important narrative arcs and maintain the event’s maximum impact.
Additional Context on WWE Unreal and Related Discussions
In parallel developments, a viral clip involving a whiteboard scene from WWE Unreal’s initial episode stirred conversation among fans and media. Notably, veteran wrestling journalist Bryan Alvarez labeled the segment as a work, highlighting ongoing debate about the docuseries’ portrayal of WWE’s internal creative process. This context underscores the complex nature of pitch ideas in the wrestling industry and their varied interpretations by insiders and audiences alike.
Overall, the denial of the Kevin Owens WWE Title pitch demonstrates the company’s cautious approach when shaping major storylines, especially those that could disrupt marquee events like WrestleMania. WWE’s decision illustrates the careful balance between creative experimentation and preserving storyline continuity, which ultimately impacts fan engagement and business success.
