Several days after the WWE Survivor Series premium live event, the realization hit that it was good LA Knight lost his United States Championship. Since winning the strap this summer, Knight’s crowning achievement has looked more and more like an albatross around his neck.
His reign has been lackluster, the feuds have all been missable, and his unmatchable “aura” has been noticeably diminished.
While a new star, he is not a young one. The phrase “strike while the iron is hot” is highly relevant here. There may be a few more times to get the seasoned performer over with the crowd. What exactly went wrong is a piece for another time.
The present, as the name implies, provides WWE and Knight the gift of an opportunity to get back on track.
A Real Feud Means A Real Feature
One of the most significant issues with LA Knight’s run has been that he wasn’t featured. The WWE roster is packed at the moment, which means even being a champion doesn’t guarantee you a spot on TV or in premium live events.
Only the top drawing stars manage to do both. Knight and his “rivals,” of which he has not really had many since Logan Paul, haven’t made the cut.
His more recent program involving Andrade and Carmelo Hayes was more about the two challengers‘ forever feud than his title, in all seriousness. Since winning the title, he has become an afterthought for the onscreen product.
Shinsuke Nakamura, the man who defeated Knight, is directly targeting him. The feud centers around Knight’s confident personality and former title.
With a story that centers so prominently on Knight, he is likely to get more time in front of audiences. It’s good that LA Knight lost because now he can be the protagonist and not the final boss for other people to prioritize and try to defeat.
It is even better that he has a foil that he can work with for a bit longer. Even if he doesn’t get his title back, just locking up with Nakamura and getting to cut a few of his patented promos about the same rival, telling a real story, will be helpful.
It’s Good LA Knight Lost to A “New” Superstar
Shinsuke Nakamura is not a new talent, but his return has been accompanied by a new character that looks plenty interesting. Likewise, he is presented as a solid manipulator who is living rent-free in his opponent’s mind.
He plays the role well and, if given a sustained push, could finally find the success he is clearly capable of having.
The near misses WWE had with Nakamura range from slightly off to total absurdity. It is past time that he got a direction that has a shot at working. There is no better feud to perfect that gimmick and solidify that direction than one with LA Knight.
Even as his incredibly high stock has fallen, Knight is still one of the most compelling talkers in the WWE. Nakamura is also persuasive. His English is becoming less of an issue as WWE leans into his previous experiences.
His run in New Japan Pro Wrestling is clearly inspiring him now. Both men are magnetic in very different ways.
If it had been Hayes or Andrade that defeated him, both presented as beneath him, that would have hurt him more than it helped them. With this loss, he is protected because Shinsuke has just returned, and Nakamura gets a somewhat shocking victory upon his return to generate a buzz.
The Babyface is Always Better at Chasing
There are obviously limits and exceptions to every rule. However, in wrestling, the face is always better on the chase than as the champion. That doesn’t mean you don’t allow heroes to defend their title; we have seen that booking style before.
Instead, it means that when a face can’t keep momentum as a title holder, they have a much better shot at building it back as a former champion looking to reclaim their title. With LA Knight falling so far below his previous heights, now is the time to make that change.
FINISH.
THE.
STORY. https://t.co/SQlOMvh39a— WWE (@WWE) April 7, 2024
LA Knight was at his peak when chasing the title. His feud with Roman Reigns felt electrifying because it was a deserving face finally making a run up the mountain.
When he finally achieved his goal, on more of a hill than a high peak, the only direction to go was down. Now that he is without the title, he can start to climb again.
It could be a story of redemption against Nakamura; perhaps someone else is in his future. Either way, he is back in the position that made him feel like the mega-star he claims to be.
It’s Good LA Knight Lost for His Future Accolades
You’re in my way pic.twitter.com/rmbhbazOYH
— LA Knight (@RealLAKnight) October 14, 2023
LA Knight should be a future world champion; the way people took to him was incredible and totally organic. Getting him out of his dull run may be a move to send him to the main event scene for the World Heavyweight Championship.
The longer his run with the red, white, and blue strap went on, the worse his outcome looked.
The loss, while never good, is a clean-cut from that situation, which could be the first step in his journey toward a world title. Would the fans get back behind him for that? Yeah. The upcoming Smackdown could give fans a big clue as to what comes next.
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