WWE often uses dark matches as an opportunity to watch wrestlers up close before deciding upon their future, and it appears this is what happened in Nashville, Tennessee, before this week’s SmackDown. NXT regulars Roderick Strong and LA Knight would face off with the former Impact Wrestling star Knight getting the victory. However, with both men in their mid to late 30’s and seemingly having aged out of the revamped NXT 2.0, it appears it is now or never with regards to their main roster futures.
36-year-old Strong signed a new long-term deal with WWE just last year. Yet, WWE contracts do not offer much security, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him depart the company given all the recent releases. However, the fact his three former Undisputed Era stable matches are all signed with AEW could mean WWE holds on to him rather than give their competition a full reunion of the group.
Knight, who many fans also know as Eli Drake, was previously signed to WWE between 2013 and 2014 but left due to clashing with then-head coach Bill Demott. He’d return in 2021 as Part of NXT and went on to have a memorable feud with Cameron Grimes over the Million Dollar Title. Despite this, the 39-year-old hasn’t wrestled on NXT television since December 5th, when he was part of the WarGames match representing Team Black and Gold.
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