2023 was a phenomenal year for LA Knight as it saw him establish himself as one of WWE's top stars. However, had Vince McMahon not stepped down as WWE Chairman, his career might have looked vastly different.
Called up to the main roster from NXT, LA Knight became Max Dupri, the leader of the ill-fated Maximum Male Models stable. With Triple H calling the shots, the group was scrapped and Knight regained his former gimmick.
During a recent conversation on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Knight shared some insights into where his head was during what proved to be a low point in his career.
"Well, the problem is you look around the wrestling landscape, and I even think to my past, and I'm like, 'Man, I had so much freedom to kind of be me and do my thing,'" Knight said. "And now I'm doing whatever this stupid model thing is."
"I even heard them kind of sharing the stories of how Vince [McMahon] was just - it was really weird," he continued. "I was told not to talk anything like I did [as LA Knight]. I'm like, 'Okay, I mean, what brought me to the dance is getting completely stripped from me, but alright.'"
Despite having zero faith in the character he was being asked to portray, Knight went on to explain that he tried his best to do Dupri justice. However, that still wasn't good enough for McMahon and his bizarre vision for him as a manager in charge of two wrestlers/models.
"In short order, it was just like, 'This is crazy,'" Knight adds. "[McMahon] and I were kind of - it's not like we were butting heads necessarily. It was just like he had a vision for this thing that put such a microscope on it, and I didn't know what the hell it was, but I was trying to figure out. And it just was not going well, and I was very unhappy, and I'm sure he probably was."
Knight went on to admit that he was convinced his release was imminent around this time; however, when Triple H brought him back to SmackDown as "LA Knight," the WWE Superstar admitted neither he nor anyone else anticipated the way he'd go on to connect with fans.
"It was just, 'Hey, here's a guy who can handle himself,'" Knight explained. "'He's a professional. He knows how to do his thing in the ring. And we can work him with some guys, he can have some good programs.' Well, surprise, surprise on your eyes, because things just got a little crazy after that."
Knight will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship at the Royal Rumble in a Fatal 4 Way match which will also include Randy Orton and AJ Styles. Heading into WrestleMania, it's widely believed he'll end up challenging (and hopefully defeating) Logan Paul for the United States title.