By admin 
LA Knight went after Roman Reigns with one of the most pointed insults possible ahead of WWE Money in the Bank.
Read more Sam Farmer’s Week 5 NFL picks
During their face-to-face confrontation on Raw, Knight called Reigns a “manufactured corporate puppet” and an “industry plant,” attacking the idea that Reigns’ rise to the top happened organically.
There is some truth behind the insult.
WWE spent years positioning Reigns as its next top star despite significant resistance from fans. The company stayed the course, and eventually it worked. Reigns became the Tribal Chief, found the character that had been missing and developed into WWE’s biggest star.
Still, WWE undeniably chose Reigns before many fans did.
Conrad Thompson Agrees With LA Knight About Roman Reigns
Conrad Thompson made essentially the same argument during an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show this week.
Thompson contrasted Reigns’ rise with stars such as “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, arguing that previous WWE stars became overwhelmingly popular before the company made them champion. With Reigns, WWE continued putting him on top even as audiences rejected him.
He pointed specifically to the hostile response Reigns received after defeating The Undertaker at WrestleMania 33.
Read more Steelers Could Get Huge Offensive Boost for Colts Game
Thompson does give Reigns credit for eventually becoming a great performer. He also credited Paul Heyman with helping transform the way fans viewed Reigns after the Tribal Chief character emerged in 2020.
That distinction matters.
Calling Reigns an “industry plant” does not mean he is untalented or that his run ultimately failed. WWE identified him as its future centerpiece and pushed him relentlessly until reality finally caught up with the company’s vision.
In that sense, I agree with Knight.
Roman Reigns was manufactured. He was forced. WWE decided he was going to be the guy long before a significant portion of its audience agreed.
The remarkable part is that WWE eventually proved itself right.
Now Knight gets to use that history against Reigns two days before challenging him for the World Heavyweight Championship at Money in the Bank. It works particularly well because Knight’s own rise represents almost the exact opposite path: fans elevated him before WWE fully committed to doing the same.
Related: More Wrestling News
Related: Chad Gable Reveals Original WWE Plans for El Grande Americano Before Injury
Read more Hall Of Fame Jockey Don Pierce Dies At 89
Copyright 2026 Athlon Sports. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published October 8, 2026 at 1:23 PM.