SmackDown’s US Title Picture Shifts: Tournament Replaces Knight vs. Nakamura Match

One Big Thing

WWE has scrapped the advertised United States Championship match between LA Knight and Shinsuke Nakamura, opting instead for a No. 1 contender’s tournament on Friday’s SmackDown.

Key Details

• Three first-round tournament matches are scheduled for Friday
• LA Knight faces Santos Escobar
• Jacob Fatu takes on Andrade
• Carmelo Hayes battles Braun Strowman
• Winners advance to a triple threat match later in the show

Background

Knight and Nakamura’s rivalry stems from their Survivor Series clash, where Nakamura captured the United States Championship. Last week, Nakamura attacked Knight during his tag team match with R-Truth against Hayes and The Miz.

Why It Matters

This tournament format adds fresh matchups to SmackDown’s mid-card scene and creates multiple compelling storylines around the United States Championship picture. It also extends the Knight-Nakamura rivalry while introducing new challengers into the mix.

By The Numbers

• 6 competitors in the tournament
• 3 first-round matches
• 1 triple threat finale

What’s Next

The tournament winner will earn a future United States Championship match against Shinsuke Nakamura, with the date yet to be announced.

What do you think about WWE’s decision to replace the singles match with a tournament? Share your predictions for who will win in the comments below.