Kevin Owens: Wrestling is about ‘creating special moments’ in or outside of the ring

Kevin Owens believes pro wrestling is about creating special moments — whether they happen inside the ring or outside of it.

On social media, there’s been an ongoing debate over whether in-ring wrestling or outside-the-ring storytelling is more important to drawing fans. AJ Styles recently weighed in by saying that moments are what people remember, but he clarified that those moments can happen in the ring during matches.

Owens agreed with that opinion while appearing on the latest episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet. During his career, Owens has approached every aspect of wrestling with the goal of making his work stand out and having fans remember it.

“As small or as big as the matches might be, I [approach] every match with just this needs to, whoever sees it, it needs to stand out and they need to remember it,” he said. “And that’s really what I approach everything I do and always done in wrestling

“I remember like a few weeks ago, a few months ago, some interview that AJ did where he talked about how wrestling is more about moments than matches… So I’ve actually been saying this, and I’m not saying he took it from me, but I’ve been saying this stuff for 15 years. Matches, people will remember matches, but they’ll remember those matches because of specific moments in the matches. And they’ll remember moments that aren’t in matches, because the moments are memorable. So I really do think AJ is dead on. It’s about creating special moments, whether it’s in a match or outside of a match, leading to a match, whatever.

“So, yeah, that’s it. I just kind of try to make every time I’m in the ring a moment people will remember.”

Owens said he’s always had a genuine connection with the audience. He can’t really explain why, but Owens thinks it’s because fans notice that he is a wrestling fan just like they are. With the moments he’s trying to create, Owens asks whether they’re something he would want to see as a viewer.

The episode of Insight was recorded before it was announced that Owens will need to undergo neck surgery. He was scheduled to face Randy Orton at WrestleMania 41 prior to being forced out of action.