LA Knight is a top star on WWE SmackDown now. But when he arrived on the main roster, he was Max Dupri, the manager of the ill-fated Maximum Male models stable.
Speaking with Mike Coppinger of ESPN, LA Knight looked back on the beginning of his time on the main roster. He admitted that he thought the Maximum Male Models pitch was a rib.
“I thought they were ribbing me,” LA Knight said. “I’m like, ‘What?’ They were like, ‘Yeah, you used to be a model, but now you have an agency. And I’m like, ‘f— is this?'”
“It took a left turn of silliness, and I was just like, ‘this is not at all what we had talked about or discussed. And I don’t know whether that was on the wrestlers or what, but then I’m just like, I’m trying to keep it in a serious vein so we can move up the card.”
Knight then stated that he didn’t want to get stuck in a comedy role, as there comes a point when a talent gets pigeonholed.
“I mean, there’s a certain point where you get pigeonholed into just comedy and you’re stuck,” Knight said. “You hit the ceiling pretty quick. I don’t want to be stuck there. … If it’s all comedy from start to finish, God, you’re dead.”
LA Knight Reflects On A Key Point In His Rise
LA Knight’s rise to the top was not an overnight success story, as fans gradually rallied around him. Even with their support, he didn’t make it onto WWE Night of Champions. However, that show proved to be a key step forward. Knight noted that the fans started to chant for him, even when he wasn’t on the card.
“I’m not even on the show, I’m not advertised for the show, but they’re telling him right to his face, this is what we want,” LA Knight said. “OK, maybe it’s for real at this point.”
Months later, Knight has cemented his status as a major player on WWE SmackDown. He will challenge Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship in a four-way match at WWE Royal Rumble.
