Kevin Owens

The inaugural edition of the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view is set for New Year's Day, and it will feature several high-stakes matches, including many with titles on the line.

While January is usually reserved only for the Royal Rumble, WWE made the decision to delay the annual December pay-per-view event until January, meaning there could be some seismic shifts in the WWE landscape just a few weeks before one of the biggest shows of the year.

The highly anticipated Universal Championship rematch between Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar will headline the show, while Big E will defend the WWE Championship against three of the top challengers Raw has to offer.

Here is a look at when and how to watch WWE Day 1, as well as a full rundown of the stacked match card.

Where: State Farm Arena in Atlanta

When: Saturday, Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET (Kickoff Show starts at 7 p.m. ET) 

Watch: Peacock

Day 1 2022 Match Card

• Universal Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Brock Lesnar
• WWE Championship: Big E (c) vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley
• Raw Women's Championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan
• Edge vs. The Miz
• SmackDown Tag Team Championships: The Usos (c) vs. New Day
• Raw Tag Team Championships: RK-Bro (c) vs. The Street Profits
• Drew McIntyre vs. Madcap Moss
• Cesaro & Ricochet vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland (kickoff)

Top Matches to Watch

Roman Reigns vs. Brock Lesnar

After their hard-hitting match ended in controversial fashion at Crown Jewel, Reigns and Lesnar are set to go at it again at Day 1 with the Universal Championship hanging in the balance.

At Crown Jewel, Reigns won after using the belt, which was thrown into the ring by Paul Heyman. At the time, Heyman was Reigns' special counsel, but given his relationship with Lesnar and the fact that he threw the belt in between the Superstars, it was unclear who he was really trying to help.

With Heyman displaying a soft spot for Lesnar in subsequent weeks, Reigns grew angry. The final straw came when Heyman said he was trying to protect Reigns from Lesnar, which led to The Tribal Chief firing Heyman and hitting him with a Superman Punch.

All signs point toward Heyman getting involved in the Day 1 match in some way, but it is anyone's guess who he will try to help.

On top of the intrigue surrounding Heyman and where he stands, Reigns and Lesnar are two of the best in the business from a bell-to-bell perspective, and they figure to put on a match for the ages.

With the Royal Rumble scheduled for the end of January and WrestleMania set for April, the result of the Day 1 match is likely to have a massive impact on both of those events.

Big E vs. Seth Rollins vs. Kevin Owens vs. Bobby Lashley

While Reigns needs only to deal with The Beast Incarnate in his title match, Big E is set to lock horns with three former world champions at Day 1.

Big E's WWE Championship defense was initially supposed to be a singles match against Rollins, but Owens weaseled his way into the match by convincing WWE officials Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville it would be a good idea to give him an opportunity.

After beating Big E in a non-title match by disqualification due to interference from Rollins, KO was added to the fray.

Lashley was the final piece of the puzzle, as he destroyed all three other participants in the match on a recent episode of Raw and then beat all of them in a gauntlet match to make the Day 1 contest a Fatal 4-Way.

There is no indication that WWE is planning to end Big E's title reign now, but since all three of his opponents are worthy champions in their own right, it isn't outside the realm of possibility that one of them could prevail.

Regardless of the result, the WWE Championship match has show-stealing potential, as Big E, Rollins, Owens and Lashley are four of the best performers WWE has to offer.

Becky Lynch vs. Liv Morgan

After falling short in a recent Raw Women's Championship match, Liv Morgan will look to fulfill her destiny Saturday at Day 1 against Becky Lynch.

Morgan has been on a roll as of late, but Lynch halted her momentum a couple of weeks ago on Raw when she illegally held the ropes during a pinning combination to beat Liv and retain the Raw Women's title.

There has been an organic groundswell of support behind Morgan in recent months, and it is clear that a large portion of the WWE Universe would love to see her win a championship for the first time.

Standing in her way is Lynch, who has been the most dominant force in the women's division over the past few years and has essentially been unbeatable since returning from maternity leave in August.

Betting against Lynch isn't usually a good idea, and there is no question that she has a solid chance to win at Day 1, but WWE has seemingly been setting the stage for a Morgan victory.

Liv winning the Raw Women's title would be a memorable feel-good moment to start the new year, but Lynch playing spoiler again would make for an interesting storyline moving forward as well.

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: profanity).

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

Matt Hardy Wants to Reunite the Hardy Boyz

Matt Hardy continues to publicly push for AEW to sign his brother, Jeff Hardy, to reunite one of the greatest tag teams in wrestling history. 

Appearing on The Drive with Josh Graham podcast (h/t Eric Mutter of Wrestling, Inc.), Hardy said it "would be fabulous" if Jeff joined him in All Elite Wrestling when he's eligible to do so: 

I know both of us have stated on quite a few occasions that we both want to end our careers the way we began our careers. And that is as a tag team. That was our dream, as two kids growing up, we wanted to be the tag team champions of the world, at least one time. Obviously we have very fortunately exceeded that many times over. But I think us teaming together and having one last run as a tag team would be amazing. And I couldn’t think of a better place to do it than All Elite Wrestling.

Matt previously told Ishan Chavan of EssentiallySports.com (h/t Mutter) he's hoping Jeff joins him and they can work a match with Sting and Darby Allin. 

Jeff's status is uncertain right now following his release by WWE earlier this month. Mike Johnson of PW Insider reported the younger Hardy brother was sent home by WWE after walking out in the middle of a match during a house show main event. 

Per Ryan Glasspiegel of the New York Post, Jeff declined WWE's offer to go to rehab before being released on Dec. 9. 

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of RingsideNews.com) did note AEW might not be so quick to sign Hardy unless it was "on a zero-tolerance deal."

If a deal can be reached between Jeff Hardy and AEW, it would certainly make sense to put him with Matt as a tag team.

They work perfectly together as a unit and would give the company another main event-caliber team to work with the other superstar duos in AEW, including the Young Bucks, Lucha Brothers, FTR and Private Party. 

Kevin Owens Talks NXT 2.0

One of the biggest changes to WWE this year was the complete overhauling of NXT to a true developmental brand. 

Kevin Owens, who got his start in WWE working on the NXT brand, appeared on the French-Canadian podcast Les anti-pods de la lutte (h/t Mutter) and spoke about what he's seen from NXT 2.0 thus far:

Today’s NXT is very different than the NXT I was part of, to the point I believe it should have a totally different name. And I don’t think it’s better or worse, but it’s just too different. So when I’m watching NXT, I don’t see the NXT I was part of. It’s not the same thing. It’s a little bit like Ring of Honor. The ROH of old days and the ROH now, it’s just not the same thing.

Owens did say the new version of NXT does have "very talented people working there, and I have watched the last TakeOver show they did and there were parts of it that I thought was really good," but he wouldn't be eager to work on the show "because it’s not the same thing" from when he worked on the brand. 

At its peak, NXT was putting out one of the best weekly wrestling shows in the world. TakeOver events were must-see television with future WWE Superstars like Owens, Finn Balor, Charlotte, Bayley and Sasha Banks in main events. 

Owens signed with WWE in 2014 and made his debut four months later at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution. He defeated Sami Zayn to win the NXT championship at TakeOver: Rival in February 2015. 

The 2.0 rebrand took effect in September, with most of the featured players being true developmental wrestlers instead of already established indie stars. The show has been given a new logo, color scheme and lighting format. 

Several standouts from the original NXT, including Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, Bobby Fish, Neville and The Revival, have since left the company and joined AEW. 

Lacey Evans Teasing WWE Comeback

It's been more than 10 months since Lacey Evans has been on WWE television, but her return appears to be getting closer. 

After a fan tweeted a video of their daughter getting an Evans action figure for Christmas, the Sassy Southern Belle responded with a simple message:

Evans was in the midst of a feud with Charlotte Flair when she announced on the Feb. 15 episode of Raw that she was pregnant with her second child. 

The United States Marine Corps veteran announced on Oct. 16 that she gave birth to her second child with her husband, Alfonso Estrella-Kadlec. 

On Dec. 4, Evans tweeted an image of her in training six weeks after giving birth:

WWE has given no indication on television when Evans might return. One potential idea would be to have her come back as a surprise entrant in the women's Royal Rumble on Jan. 29. 

Regardless of when Evans returns, she will certainly inject new life into the Raw women's division with Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley. 

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Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

Details on Kevin Owens' New WWE Contract

Kevin Owens confirmed Thursday that he signed a new contract with WWE that will keep him in the company for "several" years.

In an interview with TVA Sports' Pat Laprade and Kevin Raphael (h/t Fightful's Jeremy Lambert), Owens called the decision to re-sign "pretty easy" because it was "the best thing for my family."

Since KO made his new deal official, some reported details regarding the contract have emerged.

Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio (h/t Michael Perry of Ringside News) reported that Owens will make between $2 million and $3 million annually, which was an offer believed to be "a better deal than he could get in AEW."

Owens was viewed as a strong candidate to go to AEW since he is close friends with several wrestlers in the company, including The Young Bucks and Adam Cole, the latter of whom recently left WWE for AEW when his contract expired.

KO stayed with WWE despite his AEW ties, but it has been reported that there are no hard feelings on AEW's end.

Per Fightful Select (h/t Manik Aftab of Ringside News), some in AEW spoke on the condition of anonymity and said they were "happy" for Owens and the fact that he was able to provide for his family.

Some in AEW also expressed their belief that Owens going from WWE to AEW will still be on the table when his new contract expires.

One concern some wrestlers may have regarding signing or re-signing with WWE is the fact that the company has released about 80 in-ring performers this year.

Because of that, asking for a no-cut clause in a WWE contract could become commonplace, but Meltzer (h/t Perry) reported that there is no can't-cut clause in Owens' new contract.

Given that WWE just gave Owens a massive contract and is positioning him as one of the top stars on Raw, it is difficult to imagine the company parting ways with him any time soon.

Breakker Wants Match vs. Lesnar

Bron Breakker is one of the fastest-rising stars in WWE, and he has his sights set on one of the biggest stars of all time.

During an appearance on WWE El Brunch (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Sai Mohan), Breakker acknowledged that he would like to wrestle Brock Lesnar in the future:

I met him, I want to say like 2017, maybe or something like that. I went backstage to a Raw when I was in college. I met him there, but as a performer, I haven't ran into him. Yeah, I'd love to work with Brock.

He is an animal. I think he would kind of like Roddy [Strong] elevate me. You know, force me to elevate and bring my game up as well. I think Brock would do the same thing, and I think it would be a war.

Breakker, who is the son of former WWE and WCW star Rick Steiner and nephew of Scott Steiner, is still in the embryonic stages of his career.

He signed with WWE in February after the conclusion of his college football career at Kennesaw State, and he made his WWE in-ring debut on the Sept. 14 episode of NXT, which was the first official episode of NXT 2.0.

Breakker has essentially been the face of the new era of NXT, and the 24-year-old likely won't have to wait much longer before becoming NXT champion.

Lesnar is perhaps the biggest draw in WWE thanks to his status as an eight-time world champion in the company and a former UFC heavyweight champion.

There is no telling how much longer the 44-year-old Lesnar intends to wrestle, but he is still on top of his game and set to challenge Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship at Day 1.

If Lesnar is still competing when Breakker makes his way to the main roster, a match between them could be one of the most desirable bouts available to the company.

Gargano Calls Omega 'Dream' Opponent

Johnny Gargano fueled speculation regarding his future in professional wrestling this week based on what he said about AEW star Kenny Omega.

Gargano was asked about Omega during his Twitch stream (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton) and responded by saying: "I think Kenny is one of, if not, the best wrestler in the world currently. So, I know that's a dream match for a lot of people, me and Kenny, and it's a dream match for me, too. So, who knows what can happen one day."

Gargano's contract with WWE ended last week, making him a free agent who is clear to sign with any wrestling company.

Since the expiration of his WWE contract, Gargano has re-opened his Pro Wrestling Tees shop, while also launching Twitch and YouTube accounts.

None of that would have been possible under a WWE contract, which has led fans to wonder whether Johnny Wrestling is done with WWE.

Gargano and WWE NXT star Candice LeRae are expecting their first child in February, though, and Gargano's recent moves could simply be his way of making money while taking some time away from wrestling in anticipation of the birth.

During his time with NXT from 2015-21, Gargano became synonymous with the brand, holding the NXT, North American and NXT Tag Team Championships.

He also competed on more NXT TakeOver cards than any other wrestler, earning him the nickname Johnny TakeOver.

With NXT focusing more on younger and less-experienced wrestlers in recent months, it is fair to wonder if NXT is still the best place for the 34-year-old Gargano.

Returning to WWE and going to the main roster remains a possibility, or Gargano could follow in the footsteps of many former WWE Superstars by signing with AEW, and subsequently having his dream match against the former AEW World champion in Omega.

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The current landscape of the professional wrestling industry has had fans on the edge of their seats as WWE and All Elite Wrestling take part in an arms race of sorts. The internet is rife with speculation about where new and upcoming free agents will land. Kevin Owens was among those names as his contract was set to expire in January.

On Sept. 7, the 37-year-old seemingly escalated rumors that he could head to AEW and reunite with The Young Bucks and Adam Cole. Days after All Out, he tweeted the coordinates to Mount Rushmore, which was the name of his stable with the Superkliq during their run with PWG. It may have been just a fun nod to his friends after Cole's debut, but it was enough to get everyone talking.

The Prizefighter later deleted the tweet, but it was unclear what it really meant. Maybe, it was never anything more than a clever inside joke among friends or simply a way to create leverage ahead of his negotiations with WWE. It's hard to tell, and we'll likely never learn the truth.

Nevertheless, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select put an end to months of anticipation as he broke the news that Owens signed a new multi-year deal with WWE. This may disappoint some viewers who hoped to see a Mount Rushmore reunion or an opportunity to compete against some fresh opponents outside of the company. However, it may have been the best decision for the former United States champion.

A Timely Decision

During a recent interview on Pat Laprade's Les Anti-Pods De La Lutte podcast (h/t Marc Middleton of Wrestling Inc.), the Canadian star revealed his reasons were simple.

"The decision was pretty easy because it was the best thing for my family, really," he said. "When it comes to that, it's always a pretty easy decision to take. WWE has been my home for seven years now, so I have a sense of belonging."

Considering the past year, it's hard to question anyone in wrestling who would make job security and a hefty salary a priority. After all, WWE released 81 wrestlers in 2021, and Ring of Honor announced that it plans to go on a hiatus. According to Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio, Owens reportedly signed a three-year deal with a no-cut clause worth $2 million to $3 million per year.

If this is true, it's a shrewd move for both parties. WWE gets a chance to retain one of its biggest stars after the massive losses of Cole and Bryan Danielson. Additionally, The Prizefighter insulated himself and continued to provide for his family.

Even more, this seems like a wise move ahead of a crowded free agency period in 2022. That's not to say that someone as talented as the Marieville, Quebec, native would have any problems finding a new home. However, it's easy to see how he would have stiffer competition in his next landing spot, where he would have to essentially rebuild his brand in front of a new fanbase.

That may not have been that difficult, but it does raise the question: What would be the incentive in the long run? It's a shame that Owens hasn't been a world champion since 2017, but can you honestly imagine he would win a title with AEW within the next year? If that's the case, why should he take such a big risk?

His recent comments seem to suggest that he's happy where he is and this new contract is the security he needs. Honestly, that's more important than any aspirations we may have for him as fans of his early work or what AEW is doing right now.

What's Next for Kevin Owens

The last four years have been something of a mixed bag for the second WWE universal champion. He has proved that he can be both a tremendous babyface and a terrifying but surprisingly relatable heel. However, he hasn't quite reached the height of his success in 2016 since or surpassed the high expectations that run alongside Chris Jericho set.

To tell the truth, WWE dropped the ball when Owens lost the title to Goldberg instead of feuding with Jericho for it at WrestleMania 33. The two were engaged in one of the hottest storylines at the time, and the conclusion was a bit of a disservice to the work they had done.

Still, it's baffling that such a captivating superstar hasn't held a world title again, especially considering his trajectory in 2019 following his feud with Shane McMahon. When he defeated Seth Rollins the following year on The Grandest Stage of Them All, that seemed like the win that would catapult him back up the card for good. Instead, COVID-19 stifled his momentum, and he later entered a rather predictable rivalry with Roman Reigns.

Yes, Owens has been a part of the title picture, but it doesn't seem like he's in a position to realistically win at times. In fact, The Prizefighter will take part in a fatal four-way match for the WWE Championship on Jan. 1, 2022, at the next pay-per-view event, Day 1. This will likely be a great matchup, but he doesn't seem like a favorite to win.

Nevertheless, Owens still has unfinished business with WWE. There's still so much he has yet to achieve with the company, like a Royal Rumble win or a major WrestleMania program. This could be the perfect time to take those steps forward, as there is a notable lack of consistent main eventers. 

The Canadian star is a phenomenal worker with an even better character. This is probably the best place for him right now, but it's up to the powers that be to invest in him as a legitimate star that has decided he's in for the long haul. He actually wouldn't be a bad prediction for the 2022 men's Royal Rumble winner. 

WWE superstar Kevin Owens reportedly agreed to a new contract that will keep him with the company for the foreseeable future.

On Thursday, details of Owens' new deal emerged. Dave Meltzer reported in the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that Owens signed a three-year deal that includes a no-cut clause and is believed to be worth $2 million to $3 million per year (h/t Wrestling Inc.).

There had been some online speculation that Owens would opt to join AEW once his contract with WWE ended. The 37-year-old has a longtime friendship with AEW superstars Adam Cole and The Young Bucks, dating back to their time on the independent circuit.

Owens appeared on the Les Anti-Pods De La Lutte podcast hosted by WWE French-language commentator Pat Laprade and explained his reasoning for sticking with WWE.

"The decision was pretty easy because it was the best thing for my family, really," he said (h/t Wrestling Inc.). "When it comes to that, it’s always a pretty easy decision to take. WWE has been my home for seven years now, so I have a sense of belonging."

Owens will compete in a Fatal-4-Way match at the WWE Day 1 pay-per-view on New Year's Day against Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley and WWE champion Big E for E's title.

Kevin Owens is set to remain with WWE after reportedly agreeing to a new deal ahead of the expiration of his contract.

According to Fightful Select's Sean Ross Sapp (h/t Michael Perry of Ringside News), Owens has signed a new multiyear deal with the company. Sapp noted WWE made Owens an "excellent offer," and WWE sources are "over the moon" about re-signing KO.

Sapp (h/t Aaron Rift of NoDQ.com) reported in September that Owens' previous contract was set to expire in January 2022.

Around the same time that the report regarding Owens' contract expiration came out, KO got people talking with his Twitter activity.

Per WrestlingInc.com's Marc Middleton, Owens tweeted the coordinates to Mount Rushmore in September and changed his location to "almost there." That led to speculation Owens was preparing to leave WWE for AEW.

Owens was once part of a stable called Mount Rushmore in PWG along with Adam Cole and The Young Bucks. Cole made his AEW debut at All Out on Sept. 5 and joined The Elite with The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega.

KO is known to be close friends with The Young Bucks and Cole, so it was widely assumed he would join them in AEW.

AEW has also been landing some huge signings over the past several months, including Cole, Bryan Danielson and CM Punk. Cole and Danielson specifically allowed their WWE contracts to expire before signing with AEW.

Owens is reportedly staying put, however, meaning his recent run as one of the top stars on Raw could continue.

KO has been part of Raw's main storyline with WWE champion Big E, as well as Seth Rollins and Bobby Lashley. The four of them are set to clash in a Fatal 4-Way match at the Day 1 pay-per-view on Jan. 1.

Owens challenged Roman Reigns for the Universal Championship early this year and then had a feud with Sami Zayn that included a match at WrestleMania 37, but he faded into the background for a while after that.

The move from SmackDown to Raw reinvigorated Owens, though, and now the former Universal, NXT, United States and Intercontinental champion is in an enviable position.

Another world title run could potentially be in the offing for the 37-year-old veteran as well now that he is set to remain in WWE for the foreseeable future.

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Big E is facing an uphill battle to carry the WWE Championship into 2022.

Lashley ran through Kevin Owens, Seth Rollins and Big E on Raw to earn a place in what has become a Fatal 4-Way match for the title belt at WWE Day 1.

Lashley and MVP opened Raw by demanding The All Mighty receive a championship opportunity. Adam Pearce and Sonya Deville resolved the situation by saying Lashley would get his wish but only if he prevailed in singles matches against Owens, Rollins and Big E.

He completed the first step by applying the Hurt Lock to Owens for the victory. KO attempted to play spoiler when he attacked Rollins to force a disqualification in the second bout, but Pearce and Deville ordered a restart that culminated in Rollins eating a Spear in a losing effort.

That left Big E as the last man standing in Lashley's way. MVP hit the champion in the back of the knee with his cane, which allowed Lashley to deliver a Spear for his pivotal win.

Big E hasn't shied away from a challenge since becoming the WWE champion. He survived a Steel Cage match against Lashley on Sept. 27 and dispatched Drew McIntyre at Crown Jewel on Oct. 21. While it was a non-title bout, he also took down Owens in another Steel Cage match one week ago.

WWE Day 1 is poised to be the biggest threat to Big E's reign.

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

Goldberg Has 1 Match Left on WWE Contract

WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg's contract with WWE is reportedly nearing its conclusion.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Michael Perry of Ringside News), Goldberg has only one match remaining on his WWE deal.

Meltzer noted that Goldberg's contract is worth "big money" and includes only "a couple of matches a year." He noted that it isn't yet clear if WWE will sign Goldberg to a new deal once his current one ends.

The 54-year-old veteran made his return to WWE in 2016 after 12 years out of wrestling. After working four matches for WWE, Goldberg was out of the picture again for two years until returning in 2019.

Goldberg had two matches in 2019, two matches in 2020 and has had three matches so far in 2021. Most recently, he lost a WWE Championship match against Lashley at SummerSlam in August and then beat Lashley in a Falls Count Anywhere match at Crown Jewel in Saudi Arabia in October.

Since making his initial return to WWE in 2016, Goldberg has held the Universal Championship twice and competed at two WrestleManias, losing to Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 33 and Braun Strowman at WrestleMania 36.

While Goldberg is at the point in his career where he can't have very long matches, he remains a big name with plenty of popularity, which could convince WWE to re-sign him provided he wants to continue wrestling.

It is unclear what plans are in place for the final match on Goldberg's current deal, but competing at WrestleMania 38 in Arlington, Texas, in April could be in the cards.

Gargano Reportedly Won't Sign Until at Least February

Speculation is running wild regarding Johnny Gargano's future after his WWE contract expired, but he reportedly isn't planning to sign any new contracts for at least a couple of months.

According to Meltzer (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Gargano is free to sign and work anywhere immediately, but the "indication" is he will wait until after his wife, WWE NXT Superstar Candice LeRae, gives birth to their first child. She is due in February. 

It was reported Thursday by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select (h/t Nitish Vashishtha of Ringside News) that Gargano's WWE contract was expiring Friday after he signed a one-week extension so he could work last weekend's NXT WarGames event.

It was noted by Sapp that Gargano rejected several new contract offers by WWE and opted to become a free agent, but things remain "amicable" between the two sides and there remains hope on WWE's side that he will re-sign eventually.

Gargano made a couple of moves Friday that essentially confirmed he was a free agent, including reopening his Pro Wrestling Tees store and creating a Twitch account, neither of which he would have been able to do while under a WWE deal.

Those decisions could be a sign that Gargano is preparing to sign elsewhere, or they could simply be his means of making money while away from wrestling and weighing his options until he is ready to return.

If Gargano does not re-sign with WWE, AEW seems to be the likeliest landing spot since it has signed many of the notable stars to leave WWE in recent months, including Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson.

During his six years in NXT, Gargano held every major men's title, including the NXT Championship. He also became known as Johnny TakeOver for competing at the most TakeOver events of anyone and oftentimes putting on the best matches.

He was given the opportunity to cut a heartfelt promo in the main event of Tuesday's NXT before getting attacked by Grayson Waller as an apparent way of writing Gargano off television.

If Gargano does return to WWE, he could go back to NXT and confront Waller or perhaps finally make the move to the main roster.

WWE Trying to Appease Owens, Zayn Ahead of Contract Expiration

Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn are two more WWE Superstars whose contracts will reportedly be expiring in the near future, and WWE is apparently making moves in an attempt to keep them.

According to Meltzer (h/t Perry), KO and Zayn will both see their WWE contracts expire "soon," and WWE has been giving them more television time lately in hopes to make them happy and willing to re-sign.

Owens' WWE contract is reportedly up in January, while Zayn's contract end date is less clear, but could be around March or April, per Meltzer (h/t Andy Datson of WrestleTalk.com).

Both Owens and Zayn have seen no shortage of television time on their respective brands lately, and they have found themselves in title contention.

Owens recently turned heel on Raw and won a non-title match against WWE champion Big E by disqualification to make the WWE title match at the Day 1 pay-per-view on Jan. 1 a Triple Threat between himself, Big E and Seth Rollins.

Meanwhile, Zayn won a battle royal on SmackDown to become No. 1 contender for Roman Reigns' Universal Championship. Zayn lost in quick fashion after getting attacked by Brock Lesnar.

WWE is in a position where it can continue the pushes if they re-sign or have them put over other talent if they decide to leave.

AEW would be a logical landing spot for both Owens and Zayn if they leave WWE, and they are longtime friends.

Both have worked with many of the talent currently in AEW, and Owens is especially close with The Young Bucks and Adam Cole.

AEW has had a signing bonanza and may soon need some roster turnover to accommodate all the new wrestlers who have been arriving, but if Owens and Zayn become free agents, it would likely be difficult to pass up on signing them.

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