After experiencing a decline in popularity on the SmackDown brand due to peaking at the wrong time and facing stiff competition in Roman Reigns, LA Knight finally found redemption at WrestleMania 40. Defeating AJ Styles with his BFT finisher, Knight secured a major victory, possibly his biggest yet in WWE. Fans are hopeful that this win will revitalize Knight’s career and propel him back into the spotlight.
Just a few months ago, Knight was one of the hottest acts in WWE, garnering massive crowd reactions and outselling top stars like Reigns, John Cena, and Cody Rhodes in merchandise. However, his momentum came to a halt on SmackDown, where he faced challenges in dethroning Reigns as the Undisputed Universal Champion, especially with plans already in place for Reigns to face other prominent wrestlers. Despite falling short in his matches against Reigns, Knight remained protected and resilient, showcasing his potential as a top competitor.
At Royal Rumble, Knight had another opportunity to challenge Reigns in a Fatal 4-Way match. Once again, he failed to secure the championship, feeling like an afterthought in the world title picture. To regroup and find a new direction for Knight, WWE’s creative team explored options such as reigniting his feud with Styles or setting up a match against popular social media influencer Logan Paul for WrestleMania. Ultimately, Knight faced Styles and emerged victorious, but the win did not feel like the marquee WrestleMania moment that fans had anticipated.
Despite his disappointment at not being in the world title picture at WrestleMania 40, Knight understands the importance of midcard titles in WWE. As demonstrated by Gunther’s success with the Intercontinental Championship, these titles hold significant value and can elevate a wrestler’s status in the company. While a victory over Paul and capturing his first singles title at WrestleMania would have been a memorable moment for Knight, his win over Styles still signifies progress in his career.
Although Knight’s victory over Styles was significant, WWE must now capitalize on this momentum to ensure that it leads to greater opportunities for Knight in the future. As Knight has cooled down in recent months, WWE’s booking decisions will play a crucial role in determining whether he regains his momentum or continues to face challenges. It is essential for WWE to build on Knight’s win at WrestleMania and position him as a formidable force in the company, potentially setting the stage for even bigger triumphs in the future.
