LA Knight Aims to Steal the WrestleMania 42 Spotlight

The rising WWE star discusses his Sisyphean climb, viral popularity, and the pressure of opening the biggest show of the year.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 9:05pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a WWE match with overlapping planes of color and shape, capturing the energy and intensity of the event.LA Knight's high-profile WrestleMania 42 opening match promises a thrilling clash of personalities and styles.Los Angeles Today

After sustaining momentum for the past three years, LA Knight is set to open WrestleMania 42 weekend with a high-profile six-man tag match on ESPN2. The 'Yeah' movement has resonated strongly with wrestling fans, landing Knight a prominent role at the event. While he's unsure why his persona has connected so well, Knight is focused on maintaining perspective, having fun, and progressing toward his goal of becoming a WWE world champion, which he believes is 'overdue'.

Why it matters

LA Knight's rise in WWE has defied the typical ebbs and flows of the business, as his viral popularity has continued to grow over the past three years. His prominent placement on the WrestleMania 42 card, opening the show in a high-profile match, represents a pivotal opportunity for the veteran wrestler to further establish himself as a top star and potentially capture a signature WrestleMania moment.

The details

After a successful run in TNA and NWA as Eli Drake, LA Knight joined WWE in 2021. He's since won the Million Dollar Championship in NXT and found himself in the middle of a global partnership between WWE and Snickers. Knight points to his 2023 feud with Bray Wyatt as a turning point in his main roster run, as the two challenged each other's mic skills and in-ring intensity. Since then, Knight's 'Yeah' persona has resonated strongly with the audience, sustaining momentum in a way that has defied the natural ebbs and flows of the business.

  • Knight joined WWE in 2021.
  • He won the Million Dollar Championship in NXT.
  • Knight's feud with Bray Wyatt occurred in 2023, serving as a turning point in his main roster run.
  • Knight will open WrestleMania 42 weekend on April 17, 2026.

The players

LA Knight

A veteran wrestler who has found viral popularity in WWE over the past three years, culminating in a prominent role opening WrestleMania 42 weekend.

Bray Wyatt

Knight's 2023 feud with Wyatt challenged both men's mic skills and in-ring intensity, serving as a turning point in Knight's main roster run.

Jey Uso

One of the Uso brothers, who will team with Knight in the opening match of WrestleMania 42 weekend.

Jimmy Uso

One of the Uso brothers, who will team with Knight in the opening match of WrestleMania 42 weekend.

iShowSpeed

A social media star who will be part of the opposing team in the opening match of WrestleMania 42 weekend.

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What they’re saying

“I can't quite put my finger on it. I hear a bunch of different things that people will tell me when I'm out and about. This person will say it's for this reason, this person will say it's for that reason. I don't know, but whatever it is, something's catching.”

— LA Knight

“You got two iconic brands and I'm in the middle of both of them. To think about that, it's easy to lose sight sometimes and get frustrated in little things. So it's like, man, I want to be here, and I want more, and I'm always hungry.”

— LA Knight

“I personally think it's overdue. Some people could argue [against] that, but they'd be wrong.”

— LA Knight

What’s next

Knight will look to capitalize on his prominent WrestleMania 42 opening match and continue his push toward the top of WWE, with the goal of eventually capturing a world heavyweight championship.

The takeaway

LA Knight's rise in WWE has been a testament to his ability to connect with the audience and sustain momentum in a way that has defied industry norms. His opening match at WrestleMania 42 represents a pivotal opportunity to further establish himself as a top star and potentially capture a signature moment, as he continues his pursuit of becoming a WWE world champion.