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LA Knight is amid a feud with Santos Escobar, but the queue to challenge the new United States Champion could be about to get longer on WWE SmackDown. Several stars will be setting their sights on the fastest-rising megastar's gold and perhaps someone he's unfamiliar with.
Giovanni Vinci is set to return to WWE TV on the blue brand tonight after 116 days, and he'll be looking to make a name for himself. What better way to do so than to inform one of the company's biggest stars that he's gunning for the United States Championship?
The Italian star will appear on WWE SmackDown for the first time since being drafted in April. He's been absent from TV since April 22, when Ludwig Kaiser attacked and kicked him out of Imperium.
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Vinci, 34, is returning to his roots, judging by a vignette that aired last week's episode. He spoke his native tongue, wore a trendy suit and glasses, and skied in the Alps. The gimmick is similar to the one he used in NXT 2.0 when he first exited Imperium.
That character was a high-class Italian gentleman who loved to pose for the camera. He views himself as a must-watch star, which sounds similar to LA Knight.
Vinci could warn Knight that he wants more jewelry, such as a championship title. This could lead to Santos Escobar interjecting and pointing out that he's first in line. The former two-time NXT Tag Team Champion's new gimmick could work as a tweener.
LA Knight could start a United States Championship Open Challenge on WWE SmackDown
Many will remember John Cena's reign as United States Champion and how he held an Open Challenge in 2015. Several stars, including then-NXT Champion Kevin Owens and former Shield member Dean Ambrose, answered the call.
The championship has perhaps lost some prestige amid Logan Paul's frustrating reign. The Maverick defended the title just three times in nine months, the last of the three is when LA Knight dethroned him at SummerSlam.
LA Knight should take a page out of Cena's book and start an Open Challenge on WWE SmackDown. It would allow names like Giovanni Vinci to grab the spotlight and enable developmental talent to shine.
NXT stars like Je'von Evans or Shawn Spears could answer the call, or even a TNA crossover talent like Joe Hendry could reignite his feud with Knight. The US Championship Open Challenge should be open for business soon and would make the champ look an honorable one.
