Kevin Owens Doesn't Need to Turn Heel, Next AEW Stars to Join WWE, More Quick Takes

In the fallout from SummerSlam 2024 on Raw and SmackDown, WWE quickly established the two top matches for Bash in Berlin on Aug. 31: Cody Rhodes vs. Kevin Owens, and Gunther vs. Randy Orton.

Both bouts have plenty of history behind them and essentially sell themselves as main-event attractions. That includes keeping KO in the babyface role despite Rhodes also being a beloved babyface at the moment.

Their storyline can continue to be interesting without Owens having to betray the undisputed WWE champion between now and then or at the event itself.

Beyond Bash at the Berlin, WWE could be looking to bolster an already-strong roster with new signings, especially as more and more All Elite Wrestling contracts expire.

Per Fightful Select, Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix might be the next AEW stars to make the move to WWE in the not-too-distant future.

Although it's unclear what their ceiling would be in the company, they'd surely be a welcome addition to the tag team division as well as the midcard scene once they eventually go their separate ways.

This installment of Quick Takes will examine Lucha Bros' potential in WWE, Bronson Reed's breakout performance on the Aug. 5 Raw, more fresh faces being incorporated into the mix, and more.

Roman Reigns returning and targeting The Bloodline ensures that Solo Sikoa will be out of the Undisputed WWE Championship picture going forward, which allowed Rhodes to choose Owens as his next challenger at Bash at Berlin.

Their friendship both on and off screen has been well documented for years and has been extremely apparent throughout Rhodes' rivalry with The Bloodline. Owens turning on him out of jealousy would be a fine way to add more fuel to their "feud," but it's far from necessary.

For as much as KO excels in the heel role, it wouldn't fit the story they're trying to tell. It was Rhodes who went to bat for Owens as his opponent for the pay-per-view and no tension has been teased between them.

If anything, it would make much more sense for Randy Orton to be the one to ultimately betray Rhodes. He can take exception to The American Nightmare awarding Owens a title shot despite The Viper fighting on the frontline alongside Rhodes for months and being awarded nothing while heavily hinting that's been his hidden agenda.

As for Rhodes vs. Orton, there's no issue with it being a rare babyface vs. babyface world title match at Bash in the Berlin, as it will undoubtedly deliver no matter what.

Raw and SmackDown benefited from WWE reshuffling the deck post-SummerSlam and several familiar faces resurfacing for the first time in many months, most notably Odyssey Jones and Giovanni Vinci.

Both stars were perfectly reintroduced in their own way, and the timing couldn't have been better.

Jones has been absent from WWE programming since being drafted to Raw in the spring of 2023. He hadn't made a single appearance on the red brand before coming to the aid of The New Day against The Final Testament on the Aug. 5 edition of Raw.

Not only will being aligned with an act that's over give him instant credibility, but there's also the chance WWE tells the subtle story of Xavier Woods or Kofi Kingston inviting Jones to join the group and creating intrigue in the process.

Meanwhile, Vinci was virtually guaranteed to be on WWE's chopping block after being booted from Imperium post-WrestleMania 40. Thankfully, he's being afforded another opportunity to show what he can do as a singles star on SmackDown.

The untapped potential of Jones and Vinci and their recent returns to television only add to the excitement currently surrounding the product.

Bronson Reed appeared to be primed for big things upon returning to WWE in late 2022, yet only now is the company showing signs of giving him the prominent push he has long deserved.

The former NXT North American champion has spent the better part of the past two years spinning his wheels without direction in Raw's midcard scene. Winning the 2024 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal was a fine accomplishment, but he needed a significant storyline to break him through to the next level.

WWE finally found something for him to sink his teeth into on the post-SummerSlam Raw with his vicious attack on Seth Rollins.

The idea of Reed working with Rollins is a massive positive, but the execution of the angle was what truly cemented Reed as an absolute force. If it was designed to write The Visionary off the show temporarily (per Wrestling Observer Newsletter), Reed has a main event feud waiting for him when he's ready to return.

The key now will be for WWE to capitalize on this newfound momentum for Reed and ensure it doesn't go to waste. He has every tool necessary to thrive at the top of the card and this program should be how he gets—and stays—there.

WWE's approach to long-term storytelling has been evident for some time now under the Triple H regime, and in countless circumstances, it has paid off exceptionally well.

The company's attention to detail isn't always as apparent or recognized nearly as often as it should be, but it was on full display during the setup for Gunther vs. Randy Orton at Bash in Berlin on the Aug. 5 edition of Raw.

Orton acknowledging his tainted loss to Gunther in the finals of the 2024 King of the Ring tournament was an excellent explanation to make their rematch official for the upcoming premium live event. Additionally, it gives The Ring General a high-profile opponent he can beat in his first official title defense.

Referring to unresolved angles and former feuds sends the message to fans that everything they consume from the product matters and rewards them for tuning in—something that was once unfortunately frowned upon by WWE brass.

Vince McMahon's willingness to insult the intelligence of the audience so frequently hurt the product during his later years, and thus the renewed attention to detail within the stories has become a refreshing change of pace.

Talent swapping promotions is now more commonplace in wrestling than it has been in many years with a number of notable contracts expiring imminently. AEW's Lucha Bros are reportedly among them and could be WWE-bound sooner rather than later.

As AEW originals, Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix jumping to WWE would be quite the move and affect both sides a great deal.

It would be a definite loss for AEW's tag team division, but considering they've done all they can as a team there in the last five years, giving WWE a shot would be worth it.

Of course, there is a real risk for them in WWE as well. Raw and SmackDown have an abundance of tandems, yet the division itself isn't prioritized as much as it should be. Amazingly, neither set of men's tag titles have been defended on a PLE since WrestleMania 40 in April.

However, Penta and Fenix have captured gold everywhere they've gone and WWE should be no exception. They can be simultaneously booked as singles competitors, and based on their in-ring abilities and aura, they'd get over with the audience with ease.

AEW won't have trouble filling the void they leave behind and will likely acquire some stars of their own, but The Lucha Bros could be a big boost to WWE if utilized accordingly.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.