WWE News on LA Knight, Drew McIntyre, Wyatt Sicks and Latest Roster Cuts

According to Bleacher Report, there appear to be no lingering hard feelings between Drew McIntyre and LA Knight following a miscommunication during their Royal Rumble interactions and their subsequent segment on SmackDown. Reports from Fightful Select indicate that, despite the drama that unfolded at the Rumble, McIntyre and Knight remain on good terms. During the latter stages of the men’s Royal Rumble match, McIntyre was eliminated by Damian Priest in a somewhat disjointed sequence, which coincidentally involved Knight and Logan Paul also battling each other at the same time. Last week, PWInsider.com stated that McIntyre was "screaming and cursing" backstage after the spot went poorly, suggesting that “someone had to get their moves in,” which overshadowed McIntyre's intended dramatic exit. He reportedly left the building before the match concluded, prompting speculation about the state of his relationship with Knight and the overall WWE environment. Per PWInsider Elite, it was later confirmed that McIntyre's frustration was mainly directed at Knight, who he believed had disrupted the tension and momentum of his elimination, which was supposed to lead into a new rivalry with Priest. During SmackDown, ahead of an Elimination Chamber qualifying Triple Threat match that included Knight, McIntyre, and Jimmy Uso, Knight humorously referenced McIntyre's outburst, playfully noting it was okay to cry and mentioning he had to "get his stuff in." While there were moments in the match where McIntyre and Knight exchanged some stiff shots, Fightful confirmed that there were no animosities afterward, despite the physicality. McIntyre ultimately won the match, securing a spot in the Chamber and moving forward with designs on a world title opportunity at WrestleMania 41. In other news, the Wyatt Sicks have been absent from WWE programming for several weeks, which reportedly may be due to an injury to a key member of the group. As noted by PWInsider.com, Bo Dallas, who plays Uncle Howdy, was not in Indianapolis during Royal Rumble weekend, even though other members of the Wyatt Sicks participated in fan photo ops. Johnson added that Dallas was not scheduled to be in Indianapolis and is currently not touring with the company. Previously, Fightful Sean Ross Sapp indicated that the absence of the Wyatt Sicks from screens was tied to an injury sustained by one member. The Wyatt group last appeared in a match on the December 9 episode of Raw, where they faced off against Karrion Kross's team in an eight-man tag encounter. While the Wyatt Sicks have transitioned from Raw to SmackDown following the disbanding of the Final Testament, which was prompted by the reported release of AOP and Paul Ellering, their future plans remain uncertain. However, there are rumors that they could potentially involve Alexa Bliss. Reports from PWInsider.com suggested that original plans had Bliss returning on Raw as part of an angle with the Wyatt Sicks, but those plans were reportedly postponed. Bliss made a comeback in the women’s Royal Rumble match and is now apparently positioned on SmackDown, recently defeating Candice LeRae in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match. Given her past relationship with Bray Wyatt, it would make sense for her to either join or clash with the Wyatt Sicks in the near future. Finally, regarding the recent spate of WWE releases, Fightful Select reported that several main roster Superstars were released in a strategic move to pave the way for upcoming call-ups from NXT in 2025. Notable names released include Sonya Deville, Cedric Alexander, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Blair Davenport, Giovanni Vinci, Isla Dawn, Paul Ellering, and AOP's Akam and Re

zar. Only Alexander from that list had been active in NXT, but he had an extensive main roster presence before being reassigned. Most of the released individuals had seen limited or no action on WWE programming in recent months, with exceptions being Deville, who often featured on Raw, and AOP, who were involved in the Final Testament stable with Karrion Kross. While all the released talent exhibited considerable ability, the limited television time required managing the roster effectively, especially with possible call-ups on the horizon. Historically, WWE conducts a draft shortly after WrestleMania, resulting in multiple NXT Superstars transitioning to Raw or SmackDown. Rising talents like Roxanne Perez and Trick Williams are potential candidates for call-ups after WrestleMania, suggesting that these releases might create opportunities for them to shine on the main roster.