Legendary WWE star to make SmackDown return after 553 days and confront LA Knight? Exploring the chances

LA Knight has been on a red-hot momentum after successfully defending his United States Championship against Andrade and Carmelo Hayes at Crown Jewel. Now that he needs a fresh challenger, WWE could unveil a massive surprise for him this week. A legendary WWE star could make his SmackDown return after a prolonged hiatus and confront The Megastar.

Shinsuke Nakamura is the name in question. Although The King of Strong Style was drafted to SmackDown during the WWE Draft 2024, he has yet to make a televised appearance on the blue brand. Recent reports stated that the 44-year-old was slated to return last Friday, but WWE seemingly postponed his homecoming for reasons unknown.

Now that Crown Jewel is in the rear-view mirror, this seems to be the perfect stage for WWE to bring him back on television. There are high chances that Shinsuke Nakamura could finally make his highly anticipated comeback this week and challenge LA Knight for his United States Title. This could be the high-profile feud that Knight's championship reign has been looking for.

The King of Strong Style starting a feud with The Megastar upon his return could immediately put him in the spotlight. Notably, the two superstars also locked horns in four matches last month during WWE's house shows in the UK. Nakamura's last appearance on the blue brand came on May 5, 2023, following which he moved to Monday Night RAW.

Therefore, the veteran superstar could be gearing up to make his SmackDown return after 553 days to kick off a blockbuster feud with The Defiant One. A feud with a credible and legendary star like Shinsuke Nakamura could also help WWE establish LA Knight as a credible champion on SmackDown.

Will LA Knight defend his title at Survivor Series: WarGames?

Survivor Series: WarGames is set to be WWE's next big premium live event. Given the grandeur of the spectacle, many blockbuster matches will likely be booked on the card. However, the chances of LA Knight defending his United States Championship at the November 30 event are considerably low.

The event is scheduled to feature at least two WarGames matches, which would cover the majority of the event. In addition, two World Title matches from RAW and SmackDown are also expected to be included. Considering that Triple H will go with the typical five-match PLE format, Knight's presence on the card seems unlikely.

Even though The Megastar might not defend his title at Survivor Series: WarGames, there is a chance that he could put his gold on the line on the go-home episode of SmackDown before the spectacle. This would allow WWE to keep him involved during Survivor Series weekend while also keeping his momentum going.

It will be interesting to see how WWE plans LA Knight's upcoming direction moving forward. With him being on a roll lately, the Triple H-led creative team may have some major plans for him and the United States Championship.