Free agency has been a big deal in professional wrestling recently. One of the biggest signings from 2024 was WWE picking up Jacob Fatu. It makes sense as he fits in perfectly with his cousins in The Bloodline angle. But it’s become clear that Fatu has the makings to be a huge star in WWE. So much so, that viewers can count on him defeating LA Knight at WrestleMania 41 to become the WWE United States Champion.
LA Knight finds himself in the unfortunate position of being in the way of a performer who is riding a wave of momentum into the biggest show of the year. From his first appearance on SmackDown on June 21, fans were ready for Fatu to supplant Solo Sikoa as the focal point of the feud against Roman Reigns. That never happened, but Fatu was due for his run.
That time is going to kick off at WrestleMania. Knight was once in a similar position. Fans wanted to see him become a main event star on SmackDown. He had his moment, challenging Roman Reigns for the WWE Universal Championship, but he was never going to be the man to unseat the Tribal Chief. Since then, he’s found himself in an odd position where there’s no room for him at the top of the roster, and his run as WWE United States Champion has been mid at best. He randomly lost the title Shinsuke Nakamura, just to snatch it back after the latter was non-existent as a champion.
Jacob Fatu will have a long run as WWE United States Champion
Taking all that into account, there’s nothing to stop WWE from taking this opportunity to put a singles championship on Fatu. The United States Championship needs someone who can put on a run like Gunther or even Bron Breakker. Fatu is one of the men on the SmackDown roster who can make that happen.
Think about some of the matches and long-term feuds that Fatu could have as the US Champion. Individuals like Andrade, Rey Fenix, Carmelo Hayes, Randy Orton, and others stand out as potential opponents. What if Fatu has a major angle against the returning Rusev? That would certainly make fans excited.
Either way, all this comes to a head at WrestleMania 41. There’s no reason for WWE to keep that United States Championship on LA Knight. He’s held the title twice and neither time has it delivered to the level fans know he’s capable of achieving. It’s time for that title to go to someone else and that someone is Jacob Fatu during the biggest PLE of the year.