Kevin Knight’s rise has been nothing wanting stratospheric. A 12 months that started with Knight having a promising run as certainly one of All Elite Wrestling’s up-and-coming stars morphed over the course of 2026 into one thing a lot, a lot bigger. Knight captured particular person gold by successful the TNT Championship in April, and now he’s on the precipice of the largest match of his profession. Knight will stand throughout the ring from AEW World Champion Kenny Omega at Redemption in Montreal, headlining a pay-per-view and seeking to shatter expectations within the course of.
I talked with Knight this week within the lead as much as his match towards Omega to be taught what makes him tick as a wrestler, perceive the choice behind becoming a member of The Don Callis Household, and be taught that in a world of heroes and villans, Knight is completely comfy to exist within the gray space.
A turning level for Knight got here in Might at Double or Nothing when he shocked the world by turning on Darby Allin and becoming a member of with Don Callis to shut the present. It felt like a staggering rejection of his function as fan-favorite inside the corporate, but it surely was medical for Knight. This wasn’t about making an attempt to change into hated, however making an attempt to raise himself.
“The objective has stayed the identical,” Knight says, “change into Jet 2 Belts.” Not solely does he wish to maintain onto his TNT title, however to win the AEW World Championship as nicely, asserting himself on the high. “I noticed the chance to overhaul this firm after Double or Nothing and figured I have to spend money on myself.
“Getting myself with the Don Callis Household and, seeing how he strikes and the way, how he’s introduced so many championships to AEW, it was a no brainer, and it’s been nothing however success ever since.”
Knight speaks plainly in a enterprise so influenced by emotion. Becoming a member of Callis wasn’t a acutely aware choice to make followers offended or to reject his longtime good friend “Speedball” Mike Bailey, however happened organically, as with all tough change an athlete must make. The NFL participant demanding a commerce, the NBA star making a call — Knight is strolling the identical line.
“He’s [Callis] been right here from day one, and he’s seen individuals come and go. He’s seen all various kinds of performers, so he snatched me up. I used to be tagged with Speedball Mike Bailey, and he had a smile, and he was simply naive to the politics of all of it. [Don’s] smartened me up, giving me one other angle, one other perspective in attacking this recreation that we name wrestling.”
If professional wrestling is a recreation, then Kenny Omega is its closing boss. Not solely is “The Finest Bout Machine” the world champion, however he’s additionally thought to be one of many biggest wrestlers of all time. Knight might need confronted loads of challenges, however combating Omega in Canada for a championship is on a unique degree. Nonetheless, Knight appears like he might need an edge — and he’s excited to
“At all times assault his weaknesses, attacking his weaknesses and, and understanding who he’s as an individual, and, and capitalizing on these weaknesses. Don Callis has recognized Kenny an extended, lengthy, very long time, so he’s priming me up. He’s giving me some recreation on Kenny’s blind spots. All of us love Kenny as an individual, however he’s careless in some methods — so, each time I see these openings, I’m undoubtedly gonna undoubtedly going to assault, take benefit.”
It’s not misplaced on Knight {that a} majority of wrestling followers are writing him off on Sunday. The lingering notion is that Omega will win, transfer on to All In at Wembley Stadium, and have one other epic match towards Will Ospreay. That’s a story Knight isn’t keen to just accept.
“Persons are anticipating this long-life anime fantasy between Omega and Osprey. Redemption is gonna be a change in fact, and we’re gonna see a brand new period. We’re gonna see a brand new celebrity rise to the highest. I snort on the individuals who look previous this match. I take advantage of it as extra gasoline, as a result of I like being a spoiler.”
It’s massive speak, however Kevin Knight has backed it up in latest months. He’s on a nine-match win streak, completely a part of his “imaginative and prescient board,” which incorporates successful the AEW World Heavyweight Title, after which includes changing into the face of the corporate.
“If all goes to plan, Jet Two Belts turns into a actuality this upcoming Sunday, and I don’t see myself relinquishing it for anyone, that comes my method. I feel I’ll let up and possibly relinquish the TNT title or, , let the opposite individuals have a bit of little bit of enjoyable. don’t wanna take up on a regular basis at AEW, however AEW is gonna be arrange within the subsequent 6 months if The Jet is on high.”
The groundwork for this run, this opportunity on the championship is constructed on the backs of people that lifted up Kevin Knight alongside the way in which. I requested him for his private wrestling Mount Rushmore, the people who’ve meant probably the most to him throughout his profession.
“Katsuyori Shibata and Kushida, as a result of they helped mildew me. From a younger lion to my first couple of excursions in New Japan and with the ability to do Affect as nicely alongside Kushida. These two guys undoubtedly imply quite a bit to me. I gotta throw in there Speedball Mike Bailey as a result of certainly one of my first excursions in Japan, certainly one of my first matches in TNA/ Affect was towards him, after which, in fact, our complete run as Jet Velocity and every little thing that we’ve been in a position to accomplish collectively. It means quite a bit to me, on a sentimental degree. Fourth, I want to give it as much as Tony Khan only for believing in me and giving me the chance to go on the market and present the world who and what I’m, giving me the chance to attempt new issues and simply at all times encouraging me.”
That is solely the start for Kevin Knight, who will likely be a staple of the pro-wrestling panorama for an extended, very long time — win or lose.
Kevin Knight will face Kenny Omega at AEW Redemption, which is able to air on Sunday, July 26 from CentreBell in Montreal, Canada, starting at 6 p.m. ET
#Kevin #Knight #hes #hungry #prepared #AEW
Supply hyperlink
