“Champ isn’t holding up,” 42-year-old star breaks silence after winning #1 contender’s US Title tournament on SmackDown
Former Unites States Champion vows to become a 2-time champion on SmackDown after an incredible victory last night.
Follow Us
WWE SmackDown (via WWE)
This week’s SmackDown showcased a series of intense matches to determine the #1 contender for the United States Championship. Amid fierce competition, a determined LA Knight fought his way to victory, earning a shot at the title. Following his win, The Defiant One delivered a stern message to the reigning champion, Shinsuke Nakamura.
Taking to X, the 43-year-old shared a video making bold promises. He stated that during his reign, the United States Championship was a true workhorse title. However, since Shinsuke Nakamura won the championship, it has been noticeably absent from SmackDown. LA Knight then vowed to restore the title’s prestige and bring it back to prominence after becoming the new US Champion.
Furthermore, Knight is a former United States Champion, and fans have been eager to see him reclaim the title. Nakamura’s reign has been widely criticized as stale and uninspiring. With WrestleMania on the horizon, the 43-year-old is now laser-focused on regaining the championship and restoring its prestige.
Without a shadow of a doubt.
— LA Knight (@RealLAKnight) March 1, 2025
Old Glory needs to be on TV every week, and the Champ isn’t holding up his end of the bargain.
Soon.
3️⃣ ➡️ 2️⃣ #SmackDown @WWE pic.twitter.com/qRGAlmznIR
A title change could significantly shift the landscape of SmackDown. Knight has been a key player in the United States Championship scene for a while, making his chances of victory quite strong. As the road to WrestleMania unfolds, all eyes are on the 43-year-old to see if he can reclaim the gold and redefine the title’s future on SmackDown.
LA Knight worried that his popularity would fade away someday
LA Knight is undeniably one of WWE’s biggest stars, with unwavering support from the WWE Universe. As The Defiant One, he stands as a true babyface in the company. However, every rise comes with an eventual decline, and Knight appears concerned about the longevity of his popularity. Recently, the 43-year-old opened up about his fears and what keeps him on edge.
In an interview with Metro, Knight admitted that he feared his popularity would fade when stars like CM Punk and Randy Orton returned to WWE in 2023. While his momentum didn’t take a major hit, he noticed a slight dip in his buzz. However, he remains concerned about whether his popularity would decline further as he faced more defeats later in his career.
‘And I’m like, “Alright, well, now the perception is going to be, “I got defeated, now these guys are here, so now I fade”. And I think a lot of people [had] kind of taken that stance for a moment.’
LA Knight via Metro
Despite facing setbacks, LA’s popularity shows no signs of fading. He continues to receive thunderous reactions from fans, whether in the U.S. or across the globe. With his momentum still strong, it will be interesting to see how his star power evolves moving forward.
Stay Updated!
/techfirstnow/media/agency_attachments/kATjCXskQdJKkXN0OuqW.png)