Despite a successful title defense at WWE Crown Jewel 2024, United States Champion LA Knight finds himself facing an uphill battle as he tries to climb higher on the star-studded roster of SmackDown. With top names like Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, Kevin Owens and Randy Orton taking up most of the spotlight, Knight's reign as champion has been largely overshadowed. Even with a recent contract extension and a high-profile win over Logan Paul, Knight's lackluster reign highlights the challenges of being a midcard champion in a top-heavy roster.
After successfully defending his title at SummerSlam, Cody Rhodes reveals his chosen opponent for the Undisputed WWE Title at Bash in Berlin. Despite some interference from Solo Sikoa, Rhodes announces that he wants to face Kevin Owens. After some back-and-forth, Owens ultimately accepts the challenge, setting the stage for an exciting match at Bash in Berlin.
The latest episode of SmackDown was filled with exciting fights, including a showdown between Kevin Owens and Austin Theory. The episode also saw the appearance of The Rock, who confronted WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns and Cody Rhodes. Additionally, Bayley emerged victorious in the Women's Royal Rumble.