A former WWE champion has raised concerns about LA Knight’s bond with the WWE fanbase, noting issues with his connection despite the popularity of his ‘Yeah!’ catchphrase. LA Knight has drawn some of the loudest reactions in recent years, but his relationship with fans remains questioned.
Bully Ray, a WWE Hall of Famer, shared his views on the matter during an appearance on Busted Open. He described how the energy between Knight and the audience starts strong but gradually diminishes as fans grow tired of the repetitive chanting.
“Every time LA Knight hit offense during the end of the match, the comeback of the match, he would hit his clotheslines, and what would the people chant? (Yeah!) And then he’d hit another clothesline, and what would the people say? (Yeah!) And then he’d hit another clothesline and what would the people say? (Yeah!)”
Bully Ray explained in detail.
Fan Response Fades Despite Catchphrase’s Initial Energy
According to Bully Ray, the enthusiasm for LA Knight’s signature call-out decreases over the course of a match, indicating a lack of meaningful emotional engagement.
“But the ‘Yeah!’ started to decrease. Every time they screamed ‘Yeah!’ it got a little less loud and less loud and less loud. They’re saying ‘Yeah!’ to the physicality, and they’re getting burned out on screaming ‘Yeah!’”
he said. This suggests fans are responding more to the repetition of a phrase than to genuine excitement for Knight’s performance.
He added that this dynamic reveals a deeper problem: Knight does not yet evoke true emotional investment from the crowd.
“I still believe that the emotional connection between LA Knight and the fanbase is lacking.”
Lessons From Vince McMahon About Audience Engagement
Bullying Ray also relayed advice he received directly from WWE chairman Vince McMahon about securing authentic audience reactions. McMahon taught him to never plead for fan approval but to force their feelings naturally:
“Don’t ask them to like you. Don’t ask them to hate you. Make them like you. Make them hate you.”
In contrast, he criticized Knight’s habit of soliciting approval from the crowd during matches.
“What Knight is doing is he’s asking them for their approval. Steve Austin would never do that. Ever, ever, ever. That’s what LA Knight needs to find. He needs to get them to connect with him in the ring, so he doesn’t have to ask them.”
Personality Challenges Impacting Fan Affection
Bullying Ray noted that Knight’s bratty and snarky demeanor makes it difficult for fans to develop a genuine fondness for him, an important step for wrestlers aiming for long-term success.
“He’s a bit of a douche. He’s snarky, he’s a wise-ass, he’s all of those things, so it’s kinda hard to love somebody that comes off that way.”
He described the current fan behavior around Knight as mechanical, with audiences repeating a programmed chant rather than forging an emotional connection.
“They’re just being puppets right now with LA Knight. Fans are just rattling off the words that they’ve been programmed to rattle off. ‘LA Knight, Yeah!’ Other than that, I don’t see a lot of emotional connection. And you can never take that next step if you don’t get that.”
You have to get over with the people to a certain level where they truly love you. And LA Knight doesn’t come off as a loveable person – at f**king all.
– Bully Ray, WWE Hall of Famer
Recent Confrontations Between LA Knight and Jey Uso on WWE Raw
In recent WWE Raw episodes, LA Knight and fellow top babyface Jey Uso have been involved in a heated rivalry, highlighting their status on the show’s brand. Two weeks ago, the segment ended with Uso delivering a spear to Knight, while the latest Raw closed with Knight responding by hitting a BFT move on Uso. These exchanges are part of ongoing storyline developments on WWE’s flagship program.
Significance of Establishing a Genuine Fan Connection
The ability to stir genuine emotional reactions from audiences remains a cornerstone of wrestling success, as emphasized by Bully Ray’s insights. While LA Knight’s catchphrase has made a strong impact, sustaining deep fan investment requires developing a persona that fans love or passionately dislike without prompting.
As Knight continues to gain prominence on WWE Raw, his challenge lies in transcending scripted chants to create lasting resonance with fans, which could determine his trajectory within the company. Meanwhile, his ongoing feud with Jey Uso offers a platform to further evolve this connection and showcase his in-ring charisma.
