Triple H might have buried his most prized WWE star on SmackDown

Triple H might have made a major mistake on SmackDown, leading to one of WWE's megastars losing. The King of the Ring tournament continued tonight, and there was one astonishing result.

LA Knight lost to Tama Tonga in a quarterfinal match with the latter's Bloodline co-members at ringside. Solo Sikoa distracted the fastest-rising megastar in WWE to help Tama Tonga win.

It's hard to argue that Triple H hasn't just buried one of his biggest stars. This loss, albeit through distraction, is a huge surprise given how strongly the 41-year-old has been booked over the past year

LA Knight struggled to win over former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon when he broke onto the main roster in 2022. He was handed a fashionista gimmick and the name Max Dupri. It wasn't the electrifying character fans were used to seeing from his days in NXT.

Triple H put things right when he took over creative and put LA Knight on course towards a permanent main event stay. The chief content officer explained why he put his trust in the SmackDown star when speaking to Greg & The Morning Buzz:

"He kept grinding, kept grinding, kept grinding, and here is sort of running towards the end of his career and all of a sudden, he’s making it and becoming a big deal. Hopefully, he can capitalize on that, and we can, but you never know, and you keep those doors open and you see what’s going to resonate." [H/T WrestleTalk].

La Knight has resonated with fans with his comedic characteristics and determination when the going got tough years ago. We've been waiting for the Californian star to get his major break, but the decision to have him lose tonight means the wait may go on.

---

Triple H should book LA Knight in a high-profile WWE SmackDown feud

LA Knight should at least have a title reign to his name by now. He's been one of the most entertaining superstars of the Triple H era, with witty mic skills and memorable moments keeping fans entertained on SmackDown.

Triple H can rectify tonight's mistake on SmackDown by having LA Knight feud with Logan Paul for the United States Championship. The pair exchanged words before his surprise loss, and a title match at Summerslam should be considered.

WWE Money in the Bank is also on the horizon (July 6), which gives him another opportunity to break into the main event scene. Some felt he should have won the briefcase in London last year, but Damian Priest won.