WWE SmackDown star LA Knight was one of the fan favorites to win the much-awaited Money in the Bank Ladder Match. However, much to their surprise, this did not happen as Damien Priest emerged victorious in that game.
Knight has been insanely popular with the fans ever since he joined WWE NXT TakeOver in 2021. However, after failing to win the MITB game, he was not featured in this week’s Friday Night SmackDown in Madison Square Garden.
Turns out, this had nothing to do with timing issues. The main reason for him not being a part of Friday Night SmackDown was that he was already involved in a dark segment that was planned before the show.
LA Knight not being on #SmackDown had nothing to do with timing issues, and was always planned for a dark segment w/Hit Row.
WWE had planned ahead of the show to release the segment on digital platforms.
– per @FightfulSelect pic.twitter.com/mXp0Ew49Pp
— PW Chronicle (@_PWChronicle) July 9, 2023
He made his appearance at MSG before the show with Hit Row in a dark segment. This was a digital exclusive segment, and it made a huge roar on WWE’s social media and was the most liked and viewed tweet from that night. This again gives you an idea of his rising popularity among fans.
LA Knight Segments Getting More Views than Bloodline Segments
It is quite evident that LA Knight has made a name for himself among the fans, especially on social media. Some are even comparing him to the likes of The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.
His segments are getting more views than the Bloodline storyline on WWE SmackDown. The dark segment from last week gathered almost 2 million views and over 21,000 likes. These are more tweets than any bloodline segment from WWE on the same day.
LA Knight’s digital exclusive segment from before #SmackDown went on the air that WWE uploaded to their official Twitter was their most liked & viewed tweet from last night.
Outdrawing any clip of The Bloodline at nearly 2 million views and over 21,000 likes in under 24 hours. pic.twitter.com/OXexDTPwNn
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) July 8, 2023
So, what is it with him that makes him rise to the top every week? Most importantly, the guy knows how to talk. His microphone skills and promos are absolutely genius, and he receives the loudest cheers whenever he is in the arena.
The 40-year-old wrestler has a charismatic and dominant personality that makes him attractive, and his wrestling style is much more natural and orthodox compared to his opponents. This may also be a reason for his growing popularity.
While LA Knight has arguably had no impact on the main roster, his segments are getting increasingly popular by the day. The fans love him for his authenticity, and many believe him to be the next big thing in the WWE Universe.
It will be interesting to see what WWE has in line for the megastar and if he is really destined for greatness.