10 New Directions For WWE After Payback 2023

5. LA Knight Winning Gold

WWE Survivor Series 2023 CM Punk
WWE.com

One of John Cena's mission statements during this short WWE comeback will be shining a light on fresher faces management wants fans to care about. LA Knight is 100% one of those - the company has shown some faith in him by twinning that win at SummerSlam with another triumph over The Miz on Saturday.

Putting gold around his waist/over his shoulder is the next natural step.

Rey Mysterio is an industry treasure, but he won't be United States Champ for too much longer. It says everything for the popularity of Knight that fans probably wouldn't even boo him for cutting down a legendary babyface hero and taking the strap. That'd be a win-win outcome for everyone.

The United States belt badly needs some of the good vibes showered on Raw's Intercontinental Title. GUNTHER has been a stunning IC Champion, but his move during the WWE Draft left a gaping hole in SmackDown's midcard. LA Knight is surely about to fill it.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.