The right man won the ladder match for the Million Dollar Championship at WWE NXT TakeOver: In Your House.
Many fans wanted to see Cameron Grimes leave the show as the champion, but LA Knight is the perfect choice for the revival of the prestigious title Ted DiBiase made famous. Saying that a wrestler looks “like a million dollars” is a tired compliment at this point, but it applies to Knight more than anyone else in recent memory. He walks, talks, and acts like a movie star, and he’s got the looks, too. So when Knight entered the storyline between Grimes and DiBiase, even before WWE officially reintroduced the title, it was easy to connect the dots and hope that the man formerly known as Eli Drake would hold the gold sooner rather than later.
As soon as Drake arrived in NXT, many fans pictured his bright future on the black-and-gold brand. With his background as a former world champion in IMPACT Wrestling, Drake was one of the brand’s most buzzworthy signings in recent memory. Even though his run in the NWA was cut short, Drake’s remarkable character work during his time with the promotion solidified his status as a major player once he hit free agency. Needless to say, when he debuted on the WWE NXT TakeOver: Vengeance Day pre-show, it seemed like the sky was the limit for the newly named LA Knight.
Unfortunately, while his promo skills remained exemplary, the beginning of Knight’s run on NXT was a mixed bag. An uneventful program with future North American Champion Bronson Reed and a transitional feud with Dexter Lumis gave Knight a spot on the show, but the former IMPACT star was floating around aimlessly, searching for a defined place in NXT. Thankfully, DiBiase’s rivalry with Grimes set the stage for Knight’s breakout moment.
Whereas Grimes’ new character has been defined by his love of money, Knight’s gimmick had been relatively vague; he was clearly wealthy, but this trait wasn’t the heart of his persona. At least, it hadn’t been until Knight made his case to be the man who carried on DiBiase’s legacy. Then he cut a classic heel promo from his mansion, where he was lavishly partying with women and living the high life. Suddenly, the path forward was clear — Knight needed to win the Million Dollar Championship.
Knight is the modern-day DiBiase; with his great look, his renowned mic skills and his outstanding presence, he truly is a million-dollar star. At NXT TakeOver: In Your House, it would have been disappointing to see Knight lose because there’s a lot of money to be made with a potential pairing between the former Eli Drake and DiBiase. Following Knight’s victory, even if he doesn’t wind up working alongside the WWE Hall of Famer, the fact that he now carries such a legendary title cements his place as a power player in NXT.
It remains to be seen what his short-term future holds; he could continue his feud with Grimes, work alongside DiBiase, or possibly face another competitor who wants to represent DiBiase’s legacy. He could also defend the Million Dollar Championship as a legitimate title. Each one of these options could be compelling. But now that Knight has a signature win under his belt, his future looks brighter than ever. He could avenge his previous loss to Reed by taking the North American Championship, and he could even contend for the NXT Championship in a matter of months.
No matter what, Knight’s path forward is an open road that should be full of prosperity, and as he would say, that’s just a fact of life.
