Wrestling fans erupted when William Regal announced the Men’s WarGames lineup on Monday Night RAW—not because of who made the team, but who didn’t. LA Knight, fresh off heated confrontations with The Vision, mysteriously vanished from contention while Cody Rhodes swooped in despite having zero storyline connection to the rivalry. What’s really happening backstage?
Table of Contents
LA Knight WarGames Team Breakdown
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | WWE Survivor Series: WarGames 2025 |
| Babyface Team | Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jey Uso |
| Heel Team | The Vision, Logan Paul, [TBD] |
| Original Expected | LA Knight instead of Cody Rhodes |
| Announcement Authority | William Regal |
| Controversy | Rhodes has no feud with The Vision |
Factor #1: Backstage Heat Rumors Intensify
LA Knight’s recent treatment screams trouble behind the curtain. The Megastar’s promo getting dumped into commercial breaks during RAW’s Boston show wasn’t just poor timing—it was a visible demotion that Knight himself appeared frustrated by.
WWE rarely buries someone with Knight’s popularity without reason. His weeks of inconsistent booking, oscillating between main event moments and midcard obscurity, suggest deeper issues. When a performer with legitimate crowd connection suddenly loses premium spots, backstage politics usually explains it.
The abrupt WarGames exclusion, especially after his heated Vision interactions set up perfect story logic, points toward genuine heat rather than creative decisions.
Factor #2: Cody Rhodes Lacks a Survivor Series Opponent
Here’s where WWE’s booking dilemma becomes obvious. The Undisputed WWE Champion currently sits without a legitimate challenger after Drew McIntyre’s suspension by Nick Aldis. Rather than scrambling for a rushed title feud, inserting Rhodes into WarGames solves multiple problems simultaneously.
However, critics rightfully question putting both World Champions (assuming Gunther’s involvement) in the same multi-man match. Title defenses at premium events generate massive interest—parking champions in WarGames means no belt on the line and diminished individual spotlight.
This decision suggests WWE prioritized filling the WarGames roster over maximizing championship presentation. Not necessarily wrong, but definitely controversial among WWE’s hardcore fanbase.
Factor #3: Star Power Hierarchy Wins
Let’s address the uncomfortable truth—Cody Rhodes is simply a bigger name than LA Knight in WWE’s current ecosystem. Since returning, Rhodes has consistently operated as the company’s top babyface, main eventing WrestleMania and carrying the blue brand.
Knight, despite his undeniable charisma and crowd support, fluctuates between upper midcard and main event consideration. His former United States Championship run positioned him well, but WWE’s creative never fully committed to elevating him beyond that level.
When choosing between Rhodes’ established star power and Knight’s ascending popularity, WWE picked proven box office appeal. WarGames thrives on marquee names, and Rhodes delivers that guarantee.
The Bigger Picture Problem
This situation exposes WWE’s ongoing struggle with roster depth. Building multiple credible main eventers requires patience and consistent booking—neither of which Knight has received lately. His exclusion doesn’t just hurt one performer; it signals that popularity alone won’t override backstage decisions or star hierarchy.
For fans invested in Knight’s trajectory, this feels like another frustrating setback in his inconsistent push. Whether backstage heat, creative convenience, or star power politics drove this decision, the Megastar deserved better storytelling payoff after weeks of Vision confrontations.
As Survivor Series approaches, Rhodes’ WarGames inclusion might deliver quality action—but at the cost of logical storytelling and LA Knight’s momentum.
Check WWE’s official Survivor Series coverage for the latest team updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Has WWE officially confirmed LA Knight won’t be in the WarGames match at all?
A: WWE hasn’t explicitly stated Knight is excluded, but the announced babyface team (Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jey Uso) fills key spots with potential for only 1-2 additions. Unless WWE adds Knight as a surprise entrant, his absence from initial announcements strongly suggests he’s been removed from the storyline.
Q: Could backstage heat with LA Knight be a work to build a future storyline?
A: While WWE occasionally uses “worked shoots” about backstage tensions, Knight’s commercial break treatment and sudden booking changes don’t fit that pattern. Worked shoots usually feature on-screen acknowledgment and dramatic payoff, whereas Knight’s situation feels like genuine creative punishment or politics rather than intentional storyline development.
