A major stipulation has been added to a marquee match at tonight’s WWE Wrestlepalooza. During the Countdown pre-show, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce announced that LA Knight will serve as the special guest referee for the tag team clash between The Usos and The Vision.
The decision came after tensions between the two teams boiled over backstage prior to the event. The brawl grew so intense that security was forced to intervene and separate the four men, prompting Pearce to take action.
Citing the “too much animosity” between the teams, Pearce stated that a standard official would be unable to maintain control. He determined the match needed a stronger authority figure, and the notoriously “pissed off” LA Knight was his choice to enforce order.
Knight’s involvement adds a complex layer of intrigue, as he has issues with nearly everyone in the match. He has been actively feuding with both Bron Breakker and Bronson Reed of The Vision, as well as Jey Uso. This dynamic was on full display in the main event of this week’s Raw, where Knight teamed with Jimmy Uso in a losing effort against Breakker and Reed.
While Knight noted on the pre-show that he is “cool with” Jimmy Uso, he also made it clear he intends to officiate with a unique philosophy, promising to be lenient when it comes to the bending or breaking of the rules.
The match already carried significant weight, as it marks a major reunion for Jimmy and Jey Uso, who have not competed as a tag team in two years. The entire Wrestlepalooza card serves as a landmark event for WWE, marking the first premium live event to air under the company’s new partnership with ESPN.