Kevin Owens Returns, Replacing Kofi Kingston at Fastlane

Kevin Owens made his return to WWE tonight live on SmackDown for the first time since undergoing double knee surgery in October.

He will apparently be replacing Kofi Kingston as Daniel Bryan’s opponent for the WWE title at Fastlane, as decreed by Vince McMahon. There was a contract signing segment set for Bryan and Kingston on SmackDown, but Vince McMahon interrupted it just as Kofi was about to put pen to paper. He said that he appreciated just how much Kofi has accomplished over the past 11 years, but it was incumbent on him to give everyone the “highest caliber competition” and “biggest box office” he can. That’s why he was replacing Kofi with someone who is “more deserving” and “more qualified,” Kevin Owens.

Owens then came into the ring and signed the contract, staring down Daniel Bryan as The New Day looked angry and distraught.

Later backstage, Owens appeared to be playing a face role and said that he thought that Kofi Kingston was equally deserving of a title shot, then asked for a tag team match later in the night with him and Kofi facing Bryan and Rowan. Owens and Kofi won when Owens hit Bryan with a Stone Cold Stunner, then Owens asked the referee to raise both his arm and Kofi’s in victory.

It was rumored that Kevin Owens would be facing Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania, so we’ll see what this means for Kofi. WWE may have decided to go with the potentially hotter Bryan vs. Kofi match at WrestleMania.