Last week, news emerged that LA Knight would be battling Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship in the February 28, 2025 version of WWE SmackDown. However, an alternation in strategy by WWE led to the postponement of this plan. Instead, a small-scale tournament was organized to identify a new No. 1 contender for the U.S. championship.
The evening witnessed three “qualifying matches” forming the path to a Triple Threat match which would determine Nakamura’s upcoming challenger.
Interestingly, before the matches could even begin, a backstage interaction occurred between Solo Sikoa and Jacob Fatu. Sikoa surrendered his spot in the night’s matches to Fatu in a grand gesture of love. Fatu then went on to win against Andrade, securing his place in the Triple Threat.
SOLO SIKOA HAS GIVEN JACOB FATU HIS UNITED STATES TITLE QUALIFYING MATCH
“Jacob, I want you to represent this family, as a matter of fact I want you to bring the US Title to this family”
JACOB FATU AS US CHAMP WOULD COOK
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/qWwoqGnOSZ
— TribaI Wrestling (@TribalMegastar) March 1, 2025
In the next match, LA Knight triumphed over Santos Escobar. Notably, this was the only match of the night that did not have a major twist.
.@RealLAKnight has qualified for TONIGHT’S #USTitle No. 1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/2wwlLxQdnE
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
The final match saw Carmelo Hayes defeat Braun Strowman due to a disqualification. This occurred after Solo Sikoa and Tama Tonga interfered, leading to Strowman picking up a chair. Hayes used the situation to his advantage, making it appear to the referee that Strowman had hit him with the chair.
.@Carmelo_WWE saw an opportunity and took it
#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/0yOXzgMlSk
— WWE (@WWE) March 1, 2025
The culmination of the night was the Triple Threat main event, in which LA Knight emerged victorious over Hayes and Fatu. Knight skillfully stole the pin from Fatu, who was responsible for flooring Hayes but Knight seized the moment by pulling him out of the ring.
LA KNIGHT STEALS THE WIN FROM JACOB FATU TO BECOME THE #1 CONTENDER
GENIUS MOVE. #Smackdown pic.twitter.com/xtEykSA4F9
— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) March 1, 2025
The WWE has not disclosed the date for Knight’s match against Shinsuke Nakamura for the United States Championship yet.
What’s your opinion about this rather indirect route to awarding the No. 1 contender’s spot? Could LA Knight have been the primary choice from the beginning? Is Nakamura going to surrender the title? Share your viewpoints in the comments section below!