Mark this date: October 5, 2024.

That's the day THE REAL Kevin Owens returned to WWE television.

Owens has been a mainstay on the WWE main roster since his call-up from NXT on May 18, 2015, but glimpses of pro wrestling's most vicious prizefighter have been rare. His feud with Sami Zayn, the Festival of Friendship with now-AEW wrestler Chris Jericho, along with his Universal title run stand out as highlights of a nine-year main roster career. However, past experiences show that the best of Kevin Owens is yet to come.

Long before signing the NXT contract, Owens made a name in Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, along with other independent wrestling promotions. Known then as Kevin Steen, his character was simple: See the title, win the title. The "prizefighter" gimmick, as deemed over the years, resonated with fans worldwide. Picture Rocky Balboa with a touch of Extreme Championship Wrestling attitude. Whether feuding with his real-life best friend and pro wrestling nemesis El Generico (who may or may not be the same person as WWE superstar Sami Zayn) or teaming with now-AEW executive vice presidents The Young Bucks, Owens always did whatever necessary to reach the top of the mountain.

His NXT debut in 2014 serves as the perfect example. Owens won his debut match at NXT TakeOver: R Evolution, then later that night, he attacked Zayn during Zayn's NXT championship match celebration. The Full Sail Arena reacted in shock to the double-cross, but true Owens fans recognized it as par for the course. Owens’s sole goal in pro wrestling involved holding the promotion's top title, and he was always willing to do anything to grasp it.

This is why October 5 marked a significant return for the Owens fans love to hate.

Having been buddy-buddy with WWE Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes for far too long, being close to WWE gold triggered the thirst within him. Think of Gollum from "The Lord of the Rings" whenever near his precious. At his core, Owens needs to be the champion, with the ruthlessness necessary to achieve that goal knowing no bounds. On that night, camera footage captured Owens rapidly attacking Rhodes outside of the arena. Following that, attacks on fellow ally Randy Orton carved out a clear path toward a title shot.

It raises the question: Can a tiger change its stripes?

Ahead of Saturday's WWE Crown Jewel event, the answer for Owens remains no, which should excite WWE fans. No lengths will be too great to ensure championship status once again. If he falls short, he’ll just “Fight, Owens, Fight” his way back to the top.

Let’s be realistic: It’s unlikely he’ll dethrone WWE darling Rhodes, but this attitude shift opens up a new world of challenges along with quests for Owens. The aforementioned feud with Zayn seems never-ending. This rivalry represents the pro wrestling equivalent of Peter Griffin vs. the Chicken in "Family Guy." Paths are bound to cross soon, and with Zayn reintroduced into the Bloodline Saga, it wouldn’t be shocking to find Owens waiting when it culminates. What a treat it would be for fans to finally see the Zayn-Owens story pay off at WrestleMania, especially considering it was just two years ago when Zayn and Owens defeated then-Bloodline members The Usos for the WWE tag titles at that very event.

That's why, after nine years, this iteration of Owens is such a refreshing sight. The journey has set the stage for revisiting rivalries and intense new matchups ahead. Rest assured, no matter what challenges are next, the wait for this chapter in Owens's career will be more than worth it.