INDIANAPOLIS — Let it be known: professional wrestler LA Knight is not just the reigning SummerSlam champion.
"I'm going to editorialize you. I'm the SummerSlam champion, I'm the United States champion — I'm any champion you want me to be," Knight said.
"Friday Night SmackDown" is back on USA Network following a multi-year partnership between the network and WWE.
"Coming into this fall season, coming in as the United States champion, you can't ask for much more," Knight said.
Airing live for two hours Friday nights, Knight said you can expect WWE's whole cast of characters on "Friday Night SmackDown," including Cody Rhodes, the undisputed WWE champion, and The Bloodline, WWE tag team champions.
"When you get there, there's a little something for everybody, and that's the cool thing about it. When you watch it on TV, it's one thing, and you don't want to miss it, but at the same time, to be in the building and feel the energy, there's just something different about that," Knight said. "I've had so many people in my life – friends, relatives – who've never been to a show and they come there and are like, 'I've never watched this before, and this is so fun.'"
In June, the Indiana Sports Corp announced an eight-year partnership with WWE, hosting Royal Rumble in 2025, and a future WrestleMania and SummerSlam. Those main events will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium, while Raw, SmackDown, NXT and WWE live events will also be coming to arenas across Indiana throughout the partnership.
"I've been to Indianapolis many, many times, both personally and professionally and everything in between, so I have a bit of history there," said Knight, who started his wrestling career in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Despite wrestling having its dedicated following, there are many misconceptions about the sport.
"There's a level of respect that I don't think has been paid to this business. If you think about it, it's really one of the greatest artforms on this Earth," Knight said. "We train and work like professionally athletes because, essentially, we are. At the same time, everything is happening live, in-person, in front of everybody. There's no stops, there's no second-takes."
"Friday Night SmackDown" airs at 8 p.m. ET Fridays on USA Network.