Kevin Owens further explains his reaction to criticism from Jim Cornette and Vince Russo

Earlier this week, WWE Universal champion Kevin Owens gave us his version of the complicated history between he and Jim Cornette, and his reaction to Vince Russo’s criticism of his big title win on Aug. 29.

In speaking to Chris Jericho on the latest edition of Talk is Jericho, KO gave a little bit more background on both.

Regarding his old Ring of Honor (ROH) boss, Owens again says he hasn’t changed as Cornette claims, but explains the issues between them had more to do with the fact that the wrestler questioned the booker at all:

I know Jim Cornette says that the reason why I’m successful now is because I changed my attitude and I listen to what people tell me now, and I used to not listen to him, but the thing is, I used to not listen to him, or question his methods because I didn’t agree with them, and I didn’t share his vision. I really didn’t change who I am, I mean, even you, when we’re working on something and I don’t see it, I’ll say, I don’t know about that. I don’t do anything blindly, which is what Jim Cornette would want me to do back then.

For what it’s worth, from the moment I’ve gotten here, everyone from the Producers, to the Writers, everybody…I have a really good relationship with everyone. I remember one specific time that I didn’t like the idea they had for me that night, and I spoke up about it and ultimately did it the way they wanted it, and it turned out fine, you know what I mean? Like, I was told, it’s really not a big deal, and I would respond with, no I think it is a big deal, and they would say, no it’s really not, and they were right, it wasn’t a big deal, but I still voiced my opinion, but I really haven’t had any encounters where my bad attitude would take over.

The Canadian also goes on to say Kevin Kelly told him when they were both in ROH that the way Owens controlled his material reminded him of The Rock and Steve Austin, which KO says encouraged him to keep questioning direction with which he didn’t agree.

On Russo, the champ again states he thinks the former WWE, WCW and TNA writer only says things to get attention, and also shares a story of where he thinks Vince’s animosity stems from - and it’s unsurprisingly petty:

Vince Russo is very vocal about how I don’t look like a star or whatever. He said this stuff about Finn Balor and Sami Zayn. He wants me to respond to him and I don’t because the thing is, I truly believe, I just know that Vince Russo doesn’t believe what he is saying. He knows I’m good. He knows Sami Zayn is good, he knows Finn is good, he knows that me being champion is good. He’s just saying that because he wants to piss people off and that is what gets him ratings and attention, and it’s true, because when he says it, I get a million tweets about it.

I don’t think he believes in anything he says; he’s just really upset that I blocked him on Twitter years ago, like he made one comment about the Young Bucks and I blocked him, and then I remember somebody showing me last year when he started talking crap about me, he would say that he knows that I blocked him on Twitter.

There you have it. Doesn’t sound like either issue is going away any time soon, but at least Owens’ viewpoint is well-documented.

H/T: WrestleZone for transcription