Kevin Owens recently opened up about a surprising Creative pitch revealed in the Netflix docuseries WWE: Unreal, where he was proposed to capture the Undisputed WWE Championship at the Elimination Chamber 2025 pay-per-view. The idea, co-pitched by former WWE writer Brian Gewirtz and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, would have seen Owens snatch the title in a dramatic swerve that was ultimately scrapped. Owens expressed just how much the opportunity would have meant to him, saying he would have “sold his soul to The Rock for the WWE title in a heartbeat.”
The Rock and Brian Gewirtz’s Bold Vision for Elimination Chamber 2025
According to Brian Gewirtz, a longtime creative mind and close associate of The Rock, the initial plan aimed to inject a seismic shift into the WWE main event scene at the 2025 Elimination Chamber. Gewirtz revealed that the pitch stemmed from a desire to freshen up what he and The Rock saw as a stale babyface rivalry between Cody Rhodes and John Cena.
The pitch involved The Rock presenting Cody Rhodes with an offer to become “his champion” during the live Elimination Chamber broadcast. After Rhodes refused, The Rock would shock fans by inserting Kevin Owens into an impromptu title match against Rhodes, leading Owens to emerge as the new Undisputed WWE Champion[1][4].
Gewirtz elaborated that the real goal was not simply Owens winning the title, but rather creating an unexpected “controlled chaos” moment that would shake up the narrative structure heading into WrestleMania season. “Kevin Owens winning the title wasn’t the end goal. The takeaway was whatever it is we do, needs to be seismic,” Gewirtz explained[1][3].
Kevin Owens’ Reaction: A Dream That Almost Was
Speaking publicly after the docuseries aired, Kevin Owens didn’t hold back his enthusiasm for the opportunity. The former Universal Champion emphasized that capturing the WWE title in such a dramatic fashion, especially with The Rock involved, would have been a career-defining moment.
In an exclusive backstage source, a WWE insider shared, “Kevin was thrilled when he first heard about the pitch. He felt it validated his place at the top of the card. He’s always been willing to take risks and knew that if it happened, it would be something fans would never forget.”
Owens himself commented, “I would have sold my soul to The Rock for that title in a heartbeat. It was such a cool concept and to win in that surprise, almost cinematic way… that’s what every wrestler dreams about.” His sentiments reflect his passion and hunger to remain a top WWE star despite recent injury setbacks[4].
Why the Pitch Was Ultimately Scrapped
Despite the buzz and ambition behind the idea, WWE creative elected to pursue a different direction at Elimination Chamber 2025. The actual event featured a heel-turn for John Cena and an alliance with The Rock, rather than a title change involving Owens. According to insiders, the decision was influenced by factors both storyline-driven and logistical.
One major consideration was Kevin Owens’ real-life neck injury, which kept him sidelined and uncertain for months. Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer stated on Wrestling Observer Radio that the pitch never gained serious traction behind the scenes, calling it “complete bullsh*t” according to sources familiar with WWE creative’s plans[2][3].
“Kevin didn’t even make WrestleMania because of the neck injury,” Meltzer said, underscoring the difficulties Owens faced at the time. The injury severely limited his involvement in major storylines and made the ambitious title victory impractical from a planning standpoint[2].
Kevin Owens’ Road Ahead and Current WWE Status
Owens remains a valued and prominent WWE superstar, but his neck surgery means he expectedly missed WrestleMania 41 and is anticipated to stay out of in-ring action for several more months. Sources close to WWE confirm that management is cautious with his rehabilitation timeline to avoid further complications.
Meanwhile, Cody Rhodes continues to headline WWE events, currently set to challenge John Cena in a high-profile Street Fight at the upcoming SummerSlam, keeping the top title scene red-hot[1].
The Impact of the Pitch on WWE Storytelling
Although the Owens title victory at Elimination Chamber never came to fruition, the revelation of this scrapped pitch has stirred conversations among fans and analysts about WWE’s creative process and risk appetite. It demonstrated how WWE’s top talent and legends like The Rock were actively seeking ways to innovate and shake up long-established formulas.
A wrestling creative veteran told us, “You can tell the pitch had heart and ambition. It wasn’t just about a random change but about making audiences sit up and take notice in a new way. Even if it didn’t happen, it’s exciting that WWE is open to those ideas.”
The mystery around what could have been adds another layer to Kevin Owens’ career narrative — a performer willing to embrace chaos and defy expectations if given the chance.
As Kevin Owens recovers and eyes a return to WWE’s main events, fans can only speculate about whether future storylines might replicate the thrill of that scrapped “controlled chaos” moment pitched by Dwayne Johnson and Brian Gewirtz. For now, Owens’ candid admission about “selling his soul” for that title opportunity cements just how much it would have meant to one of WWE’s fiercest competitors.