How The French-Speaking Kevin Owens Learned The English Language Because Of WWE
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If you took even just five minutes to watch Kevin Owens cut a promo on the mic, you’d think the WWE superstar had been raised fluent in English. With his grasp of the language, all its nuances, and the way he can masterfully perform when using his mouth, it is hard to imagine that growing up he didn’t speak it. Owens is renowned for not just being one of the best in the ring in WWE, but also one of the best talkers too. However, this may not have been the case if it weren’t for WWE itself, as the company played a hugely important role in ensuring that the French-speaking Owens mastered English.
WWE Has A Global Reach Despite Being English-Speaking
Although at times WWE has lost sight of its wider audience, the “World” part of “World Wrestling Entertainment” is something that rings true within the fanbase. WWE is watched in over one hundred countries, with fans from all walks of life coming together for their love of sports entertainment. The company may have several flaws, but one thing that is positive is its reach across the globe. Due to WWE being an English-spoken product, it means that many non-English speakers are bound to pick up on some words here and there, and that was true for Kevin Owens.
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Kevin Owens was born in Quebec in the very Frenchly named town of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. Growing up, Owens’ first language was French. This was quite common in Canada, but especially in Quebec, which is known for having French as its official language, whereas the rest of the country is predominantly English. This is due to many French settlers arriving in Quebec several centuries ago, making most of those who lived there speak French. There was some back and forth over the years in terms of speaking both languages, but Quebec still remains as somewhere in which people are raised speaking French - Owens included.
Kevin Owens Taught Himself English With The Help Of Jim Ross’ WWE Commentary
Up until the age of 11, Owens didn’t know a speck of English, but when watching WWE, he began to teach himself the language. As explained by his best friend Sami Zayn in an interview on the Cheap Heat podcast (h/t WrestlingInc.com), Owens’ perception of the language was initially a little muddied due to wrestling, by Jim Ross in particular. “The mind-blowing thing, I don't know if you know this, but he's said it in other interviews, he didn't speak a word of English till he was 11. He learned English by watching wrestling. Jim Ross taught him English, so he thought that certain wrestling-isms were actually normal words. Like, he'd be like, 'Oh yeah, that was a real slobberknocker,' as if it's a common word, you know? Wrestling actually taught him an entire language.”
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It really is fascinating that WWE was able to teach a young child an entire language, to the point where he has such an incredible grasp so that he is more than fluent. When listening closely, you can occasionally hear the French accent come through in Owens’ words, but it is hardly noticeable most of the time. He has managed to secure himself a spot at the top of WWE for the last several years, and much of that is due to how great of a character he is and the work he does behind a mic. His talents are a product of WWE itself, so in a way, the company should be proud that they managed to create a star without even meaning to. Jim Ross’ commentary was captivating for all speakers, which is a testament to his talents, and he helped influence Owens to follow his dream of becoming a professional wrestler - a dream he decided to follow after watching Diesel vs Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 11.
