Kevin Owens comments on Steve Austin comparisons.
Ever since he started using the Stunner to put foes away, fans were quick to compare Kevin Owens to the man who made the Stunner famous; Steve Austin. Along with using the Stunner, Owens has been feuding with Shane McMahon, which has drawn comparisons to Austin's historical feud with Vince. Despite the obvious similarities, Owens told Yahoo Sports that he's not trying to be "Stone Cold."
“I would never be foolish enough to consider myself in Steve Austin’s league or anyone else for that matter,” Owens said. “Nobody will ever touch what he was or what he accomplished as a WWE superstar. It’s only normal, right? You’re going to compare people to wrestlers of the past. It happens in all walks of life. I’m not trying to be Stone Cold Steve Austin, I’m really just trying to be who I am. There’s a lot of the things I do probably seem similar to Steve Austin because that’s who I grew up watching. They’re imprinted on me.”
Austin has been vocal in his support for Owens, but also doesn't want fans to draw comparisons. Austin recently said that WWE would be wise to "let Kevin be Kevin."
Owens continued, discussing his decision to add the Stunner to his arsenal.
“A few years ago I had the pop-up power bomb, and I could see people using power bombs all of the time. I started thinking to myself that I needed a new finisher,” Owens said. “When you’re selecting a wrestling finisher, you want something that’s sudden and exciting and that you can do to pretty much everybody which wasn’t the case with the pop-up power bomb either. One day Steve Austin was at a show and I realized no one really uses the Stunner as a finisher and it’s one of the best moves. It’s a bit touchy because it’s such an iconic move and I didn’t feel right just using it and calling the Stunner my own so I asked Steve if I could use it. He was more than happy and couldn’t believe nobody had asked him before. It’s a tribute to him. I hope to do right by him and it’s great to be able to use the move.”
In an interview with The Wrap, Austin gave Owens' delivery of the Stunner a B+. You can view his full comments by clicking here.
Owens is set to face Shane McMahon this Sunday at WWE SummerSlam where, if he loses, he will quit WWE.
