Celebrity appearances have long been a staple in professional wrestling, but WWE SmackDown star LA Knight believes the trend is overdone. Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, Knight expressed concerns that some celebrities entering the ring lack the athleticism needed for professional wrestling.
LA Knight on Celebrities in Wrestling: “You Have to Be Choosy”
Knight acknowledged that while some crossover stars have excelled, others have struggled.
“It really depends,” he said. “You got to be a little choosy with who’s going to come in and get that physical involvement, just because not everybody’s got an athletic bone in their body. If you go around to any wrestling school, you’ll see a lot of that. Not everybody can do this.”
Knight gave credit to Logan Paul, calling him “a hell of an athlete,” and recognized Bad Bunny for his dedication. However, he also warned that too many celebrity matches send the wrong message about the difficulty of professional wrestling.
“My one qualm with having too many celebrities do this is that it gives people the idea that anybody can do this,” he explained. “Not anybody can do this—very few people can do this and do it well.”
Snooki in WWE? Knight Says Some Celebrities “Don’t Belong”
While Knight admitted that some celebrities can adapt, he pointed out that others simply don’t belong in a wrestling ring. He referenced reality star Snooki, who participated in a WWE match at WrestleMania XXVII, as an example of cross-promotion that didn’t translate well.
“No offense to my sweet Snooki out there—never met her in my life—but that’s another example,” Knight said. “I understand the idea, I understand the reasoning, but some people just don’t belong in a ring.”
Celebrity Involvement in WWE Continues to Thrive
Despite Knight’s concerns, WWE continues to integrate celebrities into its programming. The recent appearance of online streamer IShowSpeed at the Royal Rumble generated massive engagement when he was speared by Bron Breakker. The clip quickly became WWE’s most-viewed Royal Rumble social media post, amassing over 300 million views within 24 hours.
While Knight advocates for a more selective approach, the success of high-profile celebrity appearances suggests WWE has no plans to scale back on star power anytime soon.
