WWE’s Potential LA Knight Entice, AEW’s Stacked Title Scene, Extra Fast Takes

LA Knight can have the largest match of his burgeoning profession at Crown Jewel this Saturday, when he challenges Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Common Championship.

Though there’s just about no likelihood he emerges with the title, the principle query is how he’ll be dealt with after the premium dwell occasion and what he’ll be booked to do subsequent. He is proved he can cling on Reigns’ stage, however a robust exhibiting is required for him to remain in SmackDown’s higher echelon.

In the meantime, All Elite Wrestling’s scorching hand, world champion MJF, has additionally been busy coping with a slew of hungry contenders these days. He and Kenny Omega contested a basic on Collision this previous weekend, and he’s now getting ready to tackle different opponents ready within the wings.

For as a lot compelling content material the corporate is delivering in the intervening time, the AEW World Championship scene is definitely among the many recurring highlights. It is remained fascinating within the absence of Adam Cole and there is numerous completely different instructions it could possibly take.

This installment of Fast Takes will delve into how AEW has mastered its central storyline, why John Cena would acquire nothing from beating Solo Sikoa, Claudio Castagnoli being the right match for the AEW Worldwide Championship, and extra.

With the best way he was organically getting over with the viewers earlier this yr, followers had been annoyed Knight wasn’t extra of a mainstay on WWE TV. He was left off a string of pay-per-views and had no actual course at first of the summer season.

In what has felt like report time, although, WWE has rapidly warmed as much as Knight and what he brings to the desk by mainly showcasing him as SmackDown’s lead babyface. He is receiving the reactions befitting of a megastar and he is proven he’s primary occasion materials in each respect.

That does not change the result of their championship conflict: Reigns is strolling away with the belts it doesn’t matter what occurs. Save for a shock title win, Knight’s inventory is not going to get a lot greater than it’s proper now, which is why it is crucial WWE should do every thing potential to make sure he can keep this momentum in defeat.

Reigns hardly ever wins clear, so defending Knight through interference from The Bloodline or one other nefarious end is predicted. From there, protecting The Megastar towards the highest of the evening and persevering with to capitalize off his reputation is of utmost significance.

The match with Reigns may very well be painfully common, but when Knight has the gang behind him all through and enjoys a robust exhibiting, that may very well be sufficient to persuade those that matter that he belongs among the many elite on a everlasting foundation.

As ridiculous as it could be to guide one more AEW Worldwide Championship change so quickly after Orange Cassidy regained the gold from Rey Fenix on the Title Tuesday version of Dynamite, Claudio Castagnoli could be the right particular person for him to lose it to.

The ending of Cassidy’s first run with Jon Moxley lastly taking the title from him at All Out was glorious, however varied accidents to Moxley and later Fenix prompted the title to be handed round in anticlimactic style within the weeks that adopted.

Giving the belt again to Freshly Squeezed, who dominated the division for nearly a yr, was a step backward for each the title and Cassidy himself. It is time for a more energizing face to carry it, and Castagnoli is as sturdy of a alternative as anybody.

He simply wrapped up his run as Ring of Honor World champion and is in want of significant course. Relegating him to the tag staff ranks with Wheeler Yuta could be a waste of what he can do, whereas happening a tear as worldwide champ would permit him to be showcased in singles competitors recurrently.

Cassidy and Castagnoli will meet for the gold this Wednesday. If Moxley and Bryan Danielson are sidelined with accidents for the rest of the yr, The Swiss Superman being the point of interest of Blackpool Fight Membership with the gold in his grasp could be a logical transfer.

John Cena vs. Solo Sikoa is official for Saturday’s Crown Jewel, and primarily based on the story they’ve advised with the 2 in current weeks, the veteran is the favourite to reign supreme.

In that case, he positive aspects completely nothing from handing Sikoa an pointless loss at this stage of the youthful competitor’s rise to superstardom.

To say Sikoa could be “buried” by Cena could be a big stretch contemplating Sikoa seems like a giant deal merely entering into the squared circle with Cena. Nonetheless, he’ll be the one sticking round after Crown Jewel, whereas it is unknown when The Cenation Chief might be again when his present run ends.

Cena has persistently complained about not having gained a singles match in over 2,000 days, and with that not being acknowledged till now, followers are pretty sure the 16-time world champion goes over.

In the meantime, within the span of six months, Sikoa has been overwhelmed 3 times by pinfall in singles match, together with to LA Knight two weeks in the past. It is untimely for the 30-year-old to undergo one other setback when Cena can maintain off on selecting up that elusive victory till later down the road.

After all, Cena will win finally, but it surely should not come at Sikoa’s expense.

Becky Lynch’s NXT Ladies’s Championship reign might not have lasted lengthy, however it’s going to go down as one of many higher ones in current reminiscence with the best way she was capable of elevate everybody she shared the ring with.

That features the newly topped champ Lyra Valkyria, who was emphatically put over by Lynch in an incredible match at Halloween Havoc final Tuesday evening.

Now The Man returns to Uncooked as a full-time member of the purple roster for a feud with Xia Li, seemingly with out something on the road.

It is an encouraging signal that Lynch is prepared to work with Li and assist followers get conversant in her, however WWE has the tall process of constructing Li out to seem like a professional menace and never simply one other opponent who will instantly fall.

The WWE girls’s division would profit from extra non-title feuds and tales, however Li is not remotely close to Lynch’s stage primarily based on how she has been portrayed up to now.

If that does not change, the corporate can have an extended street forward of it with reference to successfully killing time with Lynch en path to a Rhea Ripley program for WrestleMania 40.

Lynch vs. Ripley is all however assured for ‘Mania, however WWE should fastidiously craft a plan that bridges the hole between from time to time to forestall The Man from dropping an excessive amount of fanfare.

Adam Cole’s terribly timed damage prompted concern amongst followers that the AEW World Championship image would lose some steam as a rematch between him and MJF was clearly within the playing cards for down the street.

Relying on the severity of Cole’s damage, it is unlikely he’ll be again in time to dethrone MJF, except The Satan holds the gold for an additional six or seven months, and there isn’t any want for that.

Fortunately, AEW has saved MJF on the forefront of Dynamite in current weeks by having No. 1 contender Jay White scorching on his heels together with a handful of different potential challengers together with Powerhouse Hobbs, Wardlow and Samoa Joe.

Hobbs owns a dominant win over Chris Jericho, Wardlow was the final particular person to defeat The Salt of the Earth one-on-one (at Double or Nothing 2022), and Joe earned MJF’s respect following their hard-hitting battle at Grand Slam in September. Kenny Omega additionally unsuccessfully challenged for the championship right away basic on Collision.

That is along with The Acclaimed making an attempt to befriend MJF in his ongoing warfare with Bullet Membership Gold, in addition to the thriller of who’s been underneath The Satan’s masks as of late.

AEW has sufficient opponents for MJF to at the least final him by way of the remainder of 2023, giving followers a number of thrilling storylines to get invested in.