WWE News: NXT Champion Kevin Owens Responds To Criticism About His Physique
It’s no secret that Vince McMahon, CEO of WWE, loves the bodybuilder look. Think of the string of WWE faces and that will provide enough evidence of that claim. Hulk Hogan, the Rock, John Cena, and now Roman Reigns. All four of them, including their talent level, have the “look” that McMahon looks for as a face of the WWE. While it works at times in this era, the need for huge men in WWE is dwindling.
That’s where NXT comes into play. Just looking at their most recent special, NXTTakeover: Rival, the results proved why looks don’t matter. NXT’s biggest guy is Baron Corbin, and even he doesn’t look like a muscle-craving madman. Corbin is simply tall. Corbin isn’t the guy who warrants the most attention.
Kevin Owens, the current NXT champion, is far from the WWE prototype. He doesn’t have six-pack abs, bulging biceps, and a crisp, clean look like a model, but Owens does have one thing that many don’t. Owens’ love for wrestling is incomparable. In a recent interview with WWE.com, Owens talked about the criticism he gets for not having the “WWE look.”
“I guess it was the exact kind of criticism you would expect for someone like me trying to make it in an industry where aesthetic appearance is so important. I’ve been told I wasn’t in good enough shape and that I looked too bland. I also had people tell me I was too hard-headed and didn’t play by the “rules” enough. All I can say about that is I am who I am. I’ve done pretty well for myself so far so I must be doing something right. Am I willing to change some things in order to improve and get even further? Of course. Am I willing to listen and learn from anybody willing to teach me? Absolutely. But I really believe I can do those things while still being genuine and true to myself.”
Like any accomplished wrestler, they are just exaggerations of themselves on camera. CM Punk, John Cena, the Rock, and Stone Cold Steve Austin are great examples. All four men didn’t have a gimmick during the best years of their career. Their gimmicks were adaptations of their true personas. That’s why it worked.
Owens talks a lot of truth in his promos. He is willing to fight everyone, yes, but he does it to provide for his family. Just by looking at his Twitter posts, WWE fans can see why he is willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top. He has a family that he wants to support, so NXT is just the first stop on Owens’ path in WWE.
It’s 2015 and looks are starting to become less important. Granted, there are men like Roman Reigns and Ryback who will get a push because of their look, but others aren’t that fortunate. Sami Zayn and Finn Balor aren’t the biggest men, but their talent is exceptional. For Kevin Owens, he’ll be in WWE within the next year. As for his push at the next level, his look won’t matter.
[Image via ringsidenews.com]
