Why is WWE Screwing Over CM Punk and LA Knight?

WWE, it seems, likes to make a habit of blowing the equivalent of a layup at the rim lately while sidelining deserving Superstars in major ways. 

The latest example might be the greatest, too, with CM Punk and LA Knight getting railroaded for another Jey Uso push. 

This went down on an episode of Raw in mid-October in the wake of the Seth Rollins injury vacating the world title. Uso won a battle royale for the right to face CM Punk for the vacated title, which, on its own, wouldn't be the worst thing in the world. 

But the context is critical here. 

WWE already had a really, really strong thing going with Punk and Knight, sans Jey. And if we're zooming out and thinking about the long-term, Punk's long-awaited title win might happen on a stage like WrestleMania. 

With the curveball that was the Rollins injury and some slogging winter months to get through during an "offseason" sort of stretch, now would seem like the perfect time to finally pull the proverbial trigger on Knight and see how a title run for the veteran goes. 

Instead…more Jey Uso.

Jey, simply put, is a major culprit here. He exited that horrific WrestleMania match against his brother Jimmy and became a good example of getting so over with the crowds that WWE had to run with him. He won a top title, then cooled off dramatically during a middling title run, only to lose it at the hands of Gunther. 

Jey hasn't recovered since, so the idea of him getting another title run is enough to make what is probably a big chunk of onlookers groan as it is. 

What's worse, though, is Jey was finally getting back to being interesting because WWE has been teasing a heel turn in which he becomes a pint-sized version of Roman Reigns' Tribal Chief character. That's really fun. 

And while fun, the epic Bloodline tale that seems to be firing back up didn't need to shove aside Punk and Knight in the process. It can remain its own thing and still be the best storyline running in the pro wrestling business. 

It sure makes it feel like the Punk-Jey matchup at Saturday Night's Main Event will end in some sort of Jimmy and Bloodline interference and/or drama that makes for a pretty unsatisfying ending. The title match could've just simply been a title match, especially if it was WWE giving fans what they want with Knight. 

As a whole, it feels like WWE managed to disrupt a handful of major storylines by choosing Jey here. It threw the Bloodline saga where it didn't need to be. It took Punk-Knight and the latter's ascension from fans. And frankly, it almost feels like it diminishes the Rollins injury saga while he's suddenly betrayed by Paul Heyman and Bron Breakker. 

On paper, the Heyman-Breakker-Rollins thing should still be its own dominant storyline that co-headlines shows with the new Bloodline saga. That's a fantastic one-two punch that WWE simply just doesn't have most years going into the winter. Those are super-compelling tales and, paired with a Punk title reign or a fresh Knight title run, would make for a great time. 

At times with Triple H as head of creative, WWE seems to really pay special care to the idea of long-term booking. But this feels like a collective throwing up of the hands and picking Jey again because he gets some loud crowd noises during his entrances. 

That is, of course, the slippery-slope decision-making that resulted in the original poor title run. It's hard to imagine WWE puts another title on him right now while having Punk eat a loss on a PLE, but the fact we're even having this conversation at all doesn't exactly inspire confidence, either. 

The damage isn't just done to Knight, either, though it sure feels like this is the proverbial nail in the coffin for him as a top titleholder. If he can't get the interim strap during a prebuilt feud with Punk…it might not ever happen. 

WWE could've gone with Bron Breakker here, though they might be saving that for a later date to add some spice to a Rollins return. And the mind wanders to AJ Styles, who will retire in 2026 and could've used another title run, with this an obvious spot for it to happen. 

Of course, this is still pro wrestling. This misfire could still lead to great stuff. Punk winning the title Seth had to vacate and holding it until he returns next year is a no-brainer, provided that's the route WWE wants to go. 

Jey could get some more meaningful character development in a win or loss to Punk, too, even if he's still largely a side attraction when Reigns is around with his dominating presence. 

Even so, the it's Jey again vibe to the whole thing speaks volumes. Knight is right there. Punk feels a cut above Jey in a way that's hard to take seriously. 

And the whole thing is wrapped in a WWE ecosystem with far too many PLEs now, making this one especially feel not all that premium.