LA Knight Faces 'Do or Die' World Title Opportunity Against Roman Reigns at WWE Money in the Bank
The popular wrestler views his upcoming match against the long-reigning champion as a pivotal moment for his career.
LA Knight is on the cusp of what he describes as a "do or die" moment as he prepares to face Roman Reigns for the World Heavyweight Championship at the upcoming WWE Money in the Bank event. The match represents a significant opportunity for Knight, who has been a prominent figure in WWE, to finally capture the world title.
Reigns has held the world championship since defeating CM Punk at WrestleMania 42 and has maintained a dominant reign, fending off numerous challengers. Knight's path to this championship match has been fraught with challenges, often involving interference from Reigns' faction, The Bloodline. In 2023, Jimmy Uso's intervention reportedly cost Knight a victory against Reigns at Crown Jewel. Later, at the 2024 Royal Rumble, Reigns successfully defended his Undisputed WWE Championship against AJ Styles in a fatal four-way match that also included Knight.
Following these events, Knight's trajectory shifted. He defeated Logan Paul at SummerSlam 2024, but subsequently lost the championship to Shinsuke Nakamura at Survivor Series: War Games. Despite these changes, the influence of The Bloodline, particularly under the interim leadership of Solo Sikoa, continued to be a factor.
Knight has recently emphasized his desire to pursue the championship on his own terms. Earlier this summer, he declared himself "unchosen" but asserted that his fans had chosen him and that he had chosen himself. He stated, "I don’t know how to quit. I don’t know how to stop. I can’t stop the undeniable kavorka and I can’t stop being L.A. Knight."
His recent path has involved strategic alliances, including teaming with Sikoa and Royce Keys to confront Jimmy and Jey Uso and Jacob Fatu at SummerSlam. This was followed by a waiting period for Reigns to defend his title. Knight also awaited the outcome of Reigns' championship match against Penta in Mexico City.
Knight himself acknowledged the high stakes in a recent interview with TMZ's "Inside the Ring." "So many people ask, like, how has LA Knight not been world champion yet? It’s almost like, put up or shut up, do or die. This is the time to do it. And if it doesn’t happen here, it’s just kind of like, where do I go from here?" he said.
The looming presence of other championship-level talent on the Raw roster, including Keys, Oba Femi, and Bronson Reed, means that a loss could push Knight further down the contender list. Wrestlers such as Bron Breakker, Penta, and Je’Von Evans are also noted as potential future challengers.
WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page has publicly expressed his support for Knight, stating he is "putting it into the universe" that Knight will win the championship. "I would love to see that. I would love to see that… Do I believe it's going to happen? I'm going to say yes because I want it to be out in the universe for LA," Page said in a recent interview.
The dynamic within The Bloodline and associated factions like the "946" could also play a role in the championship match. Recent events have seen escalating tensions between The Usos, Jacob Fatu, and a new group including Keys, Bronco Nima, and Lucien Price. The involvement of Jaida Parker siding with the 946 adds another layer of complexity.
Potential scenarios include the 946 faction, potentially led by Keys, interfering and costing Reigns the title, which could lead to a larger feud heading into Survivor Series: WarGames. Another possibility is Solo Sikoa betraying Knight, despite their recent proximity, and reaffirming his allegiance to The Bloodline as an enforcer. This outcome could also shape Knight's future storyline.
Regardless of the specific developments, the Money in the Bank event is anticipated to be filled with significant and potentially chaotic outcomes for the World Heavyweight Championship picture.