What Now?
The reality is that it has become a matter of “now or never” for LA Knight. Given that he is 43, the physical toll of the business is a legitimate factor. Unlike stars like Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton, who had over a decade to build their legacies on the main roster, Knight’s late-career arrival means he must hit those major milestones now before his window closes for good.
The recent influx of new talent to both SmackDown and Raw has left some questioning if there is still room for Knight in the title picture, especially as the roster trends toward a younger direction and in elevating the newcomers.
WWE reportedly scrapped a teased storyline between LA Knight and Gunther to move Gunther to SmackDown for a Cody Rhodes feud; fast forward to today, and it appears WWE has no substantial plans for one of their most popular stars.
His two most significant storylines to date include his WrestleMania 41 loss to Jacob Fatu, which ended his United States Championship reign, and a months-long program with The Vision. That rivalry finally culminated at WrestleMania 42 in a high-profile tag match featuring LA Knight and The Usos against the team of iShowSpeed and The Vision members, Logan Paul and Austin Theory. Since dropping the US Title, Knight has largely occupied a supporting role, even as “Father Time” begins to knock at his door.
To resolve the uncertainty surrounding Knight’s future, WWE has a few intriguing directions it could take. They could keep him on Raw to join the already stacked field, positioning themselves for the Intercontinental Championship, or they could transition him back to SmackDown. Given that SmackDown is currently light on main-event caliber performers, LA Knight could provide the star power needed to complete the show’s creative puzzle.
A Money in the Bank victory would cement Knight’s legacy, providing the definitive opportunity to capture that elusive World Championship finally. If he doesn’t secure a world title, or at least the prized briefcase, by the end of 2026, he risks becoming one of wrestling’s great “what if” stories: a brilliant performer who was the right star at the wrong time.
Ultimately, there is no denying the electricity LA Knight brings to an arena every single week. But as the landscape shifts toward a new era of younger stars, the window for a sustained main-roster push is closing fast.
If the company doesn’t move quickly, Knight’s legacy won’t be defined by the titles he won, but by the fact that both he and the WWE made us believe he should have. The clock isn’t just ticking on his career; it’s ticking on his opportunity to be one of the pinnacle faces of the company.
