LA Knight can’t quite articulate why his persona has resonated so strongly with the wrestling world. He points back to his 2023 feud with Bray Wyatt — an opportunity for both men to challenge their mic skills and in-ring intensity — as a turning point in his WWE main roster run. In the months that followed, it didn’t matter who was standing in the ring across from Knight.

When his music hit, the response matched that of some of the industry’s biggest names. That crowd reaction has carried across the past three years, sustaining momentum for the “Yeah” movement in a way that has largely defied the natural ebbs and flows of the business. “I can’t quite put my finger on it,” Knight tells Uncrowned ahead of WrestleMania 42.

“I hear a bunch of different things that people will tell me when I’m out and about. This person will say it’s for this reason, this person will say it’s for that reason.“I don’t know, but whatever it is, something’s catching.”That connection to the audience has landed Knight a prominent role heading into WrestleMania weekend, where he’ll open Night 1 in a six-man tag match on ESPN2 in a spot traditionally reserved for setting the tone for pro-wrestling’s biggest show of the year. He’ll team with Jey and Jimmy Uso in a pop culture crossover against iShowSpeed, Logan Paul and Austin Theory.

Knight will also parlay that into playing double duty, featuring in WWE’s long-running partnership with Snickers, which will debut a new campaign during the event.This WrestleMania weekend represents a pivotal opportunity for Knight.If you’re not closing WrestleMania, opening it can be a chance to capture attention early, carry momentum forward into the summer and push toward the next level. With increased opportunities comes increased pressure, though. And Knight says he won’t feel that pressure until Saturday, when the butterflies start to set in.

After wrestling the past two years on WrestleMania weekend, this year feels materially different for Knight in such a featured spot. Whether or not his Night 1 opener evolves into a signature WrestleMania moment — namely with the inclusion of social media star iShowSpeed — isn’t something Knight can easily map out.He instead points to organic moments as the blueprint for a defining WrestleMania moment — a hot crowd mixed with big personalities and gripping action that keeps the entire audience on their toes. “I don’t think that you can plan those moments,” Knight says.

Instead, his focus remains on the long game, staying level, never getting too high or low, and maintaining the hunger that’s carried him this far. “It’s quite a game,” he continues.“But at the same time, it’s crazy to just think of the places you find yourself. Again, talk about career experience, where I’ve been, where I’m going, all that kind of stuff, and you end up in things that you didn’t think you’d be a part of.”When Knight joined WWE in 2021, he did so having capped a successful run in TNA and NWA as Eli Drake.

He didn’t expect moments like winning the Million Dollar Championship in NXT, nor finding himself in the middle of a global partnership between WWE and Snickers. “You got two iconic brands and I’m in the middle of both of them,” Knight says. “To think about that, it’s easy to lose sight sometimes and get frustrated in little things.

So it’s like, man, I want to be here, and I want more, and I’m always hungry.”LA Knight, Jimmy Uso and Jey Uso open Night 1 of WrestleMania 42.WWE via Getty ImagesKnight emphasizes the importance of reminding himself that he’s in a great position as far as life and his career are concerned. He reflects on the satisfaction of his three-year run as “moments of vindication” for the past 20 years of struggling, pushing and unrelentingly moving forward.“There were so many people who were expecting and hoping that I was just going to be a fad or a trend or something that came and went,” Knight says.“And here we are, three years deep.”Ultimately, another WrestleMania provides an opportunity for Knight to progress toward his goal of reaching WWE’s top level and claiming a world heavyweight championship.

And any progress toward that should be considered positive momentum. “I’m pretty old-school in that regard — I want the top spot. I want the championship.

I want to be the guy,” Knight says.“I personally think it’s overdue. Some people could argue [against] that, but they’d be wrong.”Until that moment comes, the challenge is about maintaining perspective, not driving himself crazy, and remembering the joy that started it all. “You just got to find a way to make this thing fun again,” Knight says.”Most of us got into this because we love this. And with that being the case, you just kind of have to remind yourself of that every now and then.”