There’s no question that LA Knight is one of the WWE stars that fans are reacting to the most right now, and anecdotally, he seems to be selling plenty of t-shirts. But how much is he worth to WWE? That’s a question that’s apparently still in the process of being worked out.
Following up on reports that Knight and WWE were close to terms on a multi-year contract extension, Fightful Select (subscription required) confirms that the two sides are talking and that a five-year deal is on the table. What it doesn’t agree on is that a new deal is imminent, with the outlet’s sources saying “the two sides were far apart on money as of now.”
It’s a tricky situation simply because Knight doesn’t fit the molds of other top WWE talent. Historically, most of the company’s big stars are either homegrown (think Roman Reigns) or come into the company with established reputations as main event performers from other promotions (like an AJ Styles).
Knight is different, as he’s more of a late-blooming journeyman — similar to a baseball player who spends an unusual amount of time in the minor leagues before finally getting a chance at the top level and breaking out. He was a world champion in Impact Wrestling, but he had to pay his dues all over again since joining WWE in earnest in 2021.
His organic rise to become a leading fan favorite has been one of the more intriguing developments of the last year or so of WWE programming, with a number of people criticizing the company for failing to strike when the iron was hot with the 40-year-old Knight. He’s finally getting his push, but will he receive the big check to go with it? That’s an answer that should become apparent over the months ahead.