The anticipation for the WWE’s upcoming Premium Live Event, Fastlane, took an unexpected turn when LA Knight, one of WWE’s fastest-rising stars, tested positive for COVID-19. This news comes at a pivotal moment as the company gears up for one of its major events.
On the most recent episode of Friday Night SmackDown, wrestling fans witnessed a dramatic sequence of events. The episode started with John Cena and AJ Styles calling out The Bloodline for a tag team match. But Solo Sikoa and Jimmy Uso declined their challenge. The suspense continued when, later that night, a backstage attack on Styles left Cena vulnerable to a lengthy assault by Sikoa and Uso.
PWInsider recently shed light on this unexpected turn of events. It was disclosed that LA Knight was set to appear in the episode’s climactic segment. However, his recent COVID diagnosis forced him to vacate the premises before the show’s start. These plans would have seen LA Knight coming to Cena’s aid, a move that would’ve undoubtedly elicited a tremendous response from the audience.
Knight’s recent actions in the WWE universe made waves. He celebrated a win over The Miz just a week ago, and soon after, declared his ambitions for championship gold. This, along with his backstage confrontation with Paul Heyman, sparked speculation about a potential future face-off with Roman Reigns. If LA Knight recovers swiftly from his illness, there might still be a chance for him to join forces with Cena against The Bloodline at Fastlane.
For long-time wrestling enthusiasts, the persistence of COVID-19 serves as a sobering reminder. Despite advancements and a sense of returning normalcy since the summer of 2021, the lingering presence of the virus continues to impact events and plans. Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select highlighted that apart from his significant role on SmackDown, Knight was also scheduled to participate in a dark match post the main show.
However, with LA Knight’s absence on the latest SmackDown, it left a massive void. The episode, which culminated in a 2-on-1 beatdown that saw Cena face a beatdown from The Bloodline, laid the groundwork for the upcoming Fastlane event. Without Styles or another ally by his side, the show concluded with Cena’s predicament unresolved.
This incident raises questions about the Fastlane event scheduled for October 7 in Indianapolis. With still two weeks left, it’s feasible for LA Knight to recover and reclaim his spot. Even though the element of surprise has waned, fans would undoubtedly rally behind his triumphant return.
Moreover, the undercurrents of LA Knight’s current standing with WWE provide an additional layer of intrigue. Even if there are reports suggesting that he and the company are nearing an agreement on a new contract, nothing has been finalized. As Knight continues to dominate the spotlight and consistently elicit strong crowd reactions, WWE would be eager to seal the deal.
While the circumstances are unfortunate, LA Knight’s potential involvement in Fastlane and his ongoing negotiations with WWE provide ample fodder for speculation and anticipation.
But, if LA Knight is still out two weeks from now, maybe Randy Orton will be ready to tussle by then. Both former in-ring rivals, John Cena and Randy Orton are close friends in real life and are largely considered as the two best WWE superstars of their generation.
