November 9th 2024.
On a recent episode of SmackDown, WWE superstar Randy Orton found himself in a dangerous situation after being hit with a Piledriver by Kevin Owens. This move, which has been banned in WWE for quite some time, involves a wrestler grabbing their opponent, flipping them upside down, and slamming them into the mat. It's a controversial move due to its potential to cause serious injury, with past incidents like 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin breaking his neck during a match with Owen Hart. As a result, it has been limited in its usage on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT for several years.
But on this particular night, Owens, who had recently been involved in a frightening dune buggy accident before Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia, decided to bring back the Piledriver in his ongoing rivalry with Orton. The move was met with shock and concern from fans and commentators alike, with Michael Cole exclaiming, "There's a reason that damn move is banned!" As officials rushed to attend to Orton and secure his neck in a brace, his fellow wrestler Cody Rhodes stood by his side as he was taken out of the arena on a stretcher and transported to the hospital in an ambulance.
This unexpected use of the Piledriver in WWE caused quite a stir among fans, with many recalling its previous rare appearance when CM Punk hit it on John Cena over a decade ago. Some fans were also left wondering about Owens' future with the company, as there have been rumors and conflicting reports about his contract status. Some have even speculated that he may make the jump to rival promotion AEW. However, in an exclusive interview with The Agency earlier this year, Owens confirmed that his contract with WWE was set to end in early 2025, after signing a previous extension in 2021.
Despite having friends in AEW, Owens has no plans to leave WWE anytime soon, especially after spending a decade with the company and forming close relationships with the behind-the-scenes crew. He shared, "This has been my home for 10 years and it's beyond the locker room. There's some very, very, very special people that work behind the scenes that I've become very close with, and I really can't imagine not seeing them as part of my life."
The Piledriver incident on SmackDown may have left fans shocked and questioning Owens' future, but one thing is for sure – this rivalry has certainly been taken to another level. As always, we'll have to wait and see what happens next in the unpredictable world of WWE.
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