WWE Star Explains Why He Was Willing To Take Pay Cut For Return

WWE

SmackDown star LA Knight has shared his honest thoughts on taking a pay cut when rejoining the company for his most recent run.

Knight signed with WWE in 2021, returning to the company following his previous stint in NXT/WWE developmental from 2013 to 2014.

During his time away from WWE, Knight gained popularity while wrestling for some notable companies including IMPACT/TNA Wrestling and NWA.

Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, LA Knight spoke on regrets about not returning to WWE in 2016 when he was previously offered a contract.

Knight went on to note that he knew he’d be taking a pay cut from what he was then earning when returning to WWE in 2021, explaining:

“When I did make the jump over there, there was a little bit of not necessarily negotiation, but it was just kind of like, I knew I was going to have to take a pay cut coming in.

“But I was willing to take the pay cut on the bet that I could turn it into much more. Because I had hit the ceiling basically in Impact. And I had an awesome time and NWA for that little bit that we were able to do before the pandemic hit.

“I knew that I needed to be, although I’m gonna tell you during the pandemic 2020, I remember having a conversation with my girlfriend, and just being like, I gotta accept that this thing was just over. And like, nobody’s taking me now 37 or whatever it was at the time. And I just gotta make whatever money I can in any of these other companies.

“And I had been given Triple H’s email, and his phone number, just before the pandemic started. And I was like, Well, what am I going to do with this, I have no relationship with this guy.

“Like, I mean, we knew of each other and like, I had spoken to him like, once or twice the first time I was in NXT but like, I didn’t have a relationship where I was like, I could just hit him up. And so my relationship was with talent relations, and I’m like, I’m probably gonna get heat if I go over their heads, so I’m just not gonna mess with it.

“But then when I was at the point where I’m like, this ride is probably over. I was like, Well, screw heat. I’m messaging. So I was like, hey, look, this is what I’ve been doing for the last year that ended.

“Here’s pictures, here’s videos, whatever. And then I just let talent relations know, hey, look, by the way, I sent this email, whatever. Just give me a heads-up.

“And that’s where it was just kind of like, well, we got to talk about some things, whatever.”

Knight also revealed the real reason why WWE was concerned about pushing him recently, which you can read more about right here.

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