LA Knight Wins WWE United States Title On SmackDown (WWE News)
WWE booked a hot main event title change on this week's episode of SmackDown.
LA Knight bagged his second WWE United States Title on this week's episode of SmackDown by beating Shinsuke Nakamura. In total, Nakamura's reign (which started on 30 November 2024 at Survivor Series: WarGames) lasted 97 days. He'd beaten Knight for the belt in the first place, which ended LA's original 118 day run with the midcard prize.
Now, the 'Megastar' is off to the races again.
This appeared to be a given once Knight won last week's mini-tournament to progress to a one-on-one bout vs. Shin. WWE had taken creative steps towards that during promos and via various sneak attacks from both, but GM Nick Aldis made it official once LA beat the chasing pack to earn a championship crack.
Friday's win was a huge show of faith in somebody who might never break into the main event scene permanently but is well-respected and insanely popular as an upper-midcarder. Triple H and his writers know they can give Knight anything - he'll make it work.
The man has even fed off creative scraps since the peak of his powers opposite Roman Reigns, but nothing seems to stop his relentless march as one of WWE's best babyfaces.
Knight Won Second WWE US Title In Hot Main Event
Knight beat Nakamura in a hot TV main event that had an even hotter finish.
Shinsuke accidentally blasted referee Charles Robinson with some toxic red mist, then Knight hit his BFT finishing move on a steel chair for the win. Ref Dan Engler was on hand to sprint out like he fancied setting world records. He counted the three, and the live crowd in Philadelphia collectively lost their minds in celebration.
It's always fun to see a major title change happen in your home town. Philly has obviously witnessed a bunch of them, but this latest switch felt like a landmark moment for LA Knight heading into WrestleMania 42 season. Anyone worried about what this means for Nakamura shouldn't be. He's been placed in a deliberate 'jobber to the stars' role despite his own US Title reign.
That's surely the best spot for Shinsuke in 2025.
Next stop: 'Mania 41 and finding out what WWE has in mind for current champion Knight on the biggest weekend of the entire year. Will he make it onto either card across the Saturday and Sunday stretch? Hunter has a lot to squeeze in, but it'd be a real shame if someone as popular as LA missed out completely.