Kevin Owens has been with WWE since 2014 when he joined NXT and in December 2021, he signed a new three-year deal with the company.
Owens' contract was coming to an end at a time where AEW had a lot of momentum with major signings, and many fans thought Owens would go to AEW given his ties to The Young Bucks.
Owens ended committing to WWE before talks with any other company went far.
"I can't say I was close, but I don't think I wasn't close either," Owens told Ariel Helwani of TNT Sports when asked how close he was to leaving WWE. "I was really open to anything because I didn't know anything. I had no idea how badly they wanted me to stay here. I had no idea what was possible elsewhere. I had no clue. Honestly, none of the talks went very far because once it was time to talk to Vince [Vince McMahon], he made it clear he wanted me to stay. I felt like I wasn't done here. Not even career-wise, there's also a whole side to this place that people don't see and people don't know where we have a really incredible crew. Not the wrestlers, obviously everybody I wrestle with, I have a lot of close friends, but the production crew and people behind the scenes. They are really amazing people. At the time, I remember, 'I can't imagine leaving and not seeing these people every week.' The other wrestlers, I'm probably going to run into down the road. Through the independents the last 20 years, there are guys I haven't seen in ten years, but I'm still friends with them somehow through the bond in wrestling. For crew people, it's different. I probably ever won't get back in touch with one of our sound guys because it's different, it's different relationship. I just see them at work. Even though I just see them at work, I know them personally, I care about them, and we have a relationship. I couldn't imagine leaving any of these people behind and never seeing them again. Part of me always felt, 'I don't think I can leave,' but I could if it was better for me and family, whatever it is. It became pretty clear, pretty quick, that wasn't going to be the case. I was happy to stay, I'm happy to be here, and I still get to see all those people every week, which is probably the best part. The people behind the scenes make this place very special and they'll never get their flowers. I try to give it as much as I can. They're a very special crew, very special beings."
Owens signed a three-year deal in December 2021, meaning his current deal expires in December 2024.
Elsewhere during the interview, Owens discussed his future in wrestling. You can find his full comments by clicking here.
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