New York City was electrified as Friday night’s edition of “WWE SmackDown” emanated from the iconic Madison Square Garden. Known for its legendary wrestling events, the Garden also serves as the home court for the NBA’s New York Knicks. This connection came to the forefront as Knicks star player Jalen Brunson found himself directly involved in the action, aiding LA Knight in a pivotal Money in the Bank qualifier.
The evening’s excitement peaked when LA Knight faced off against Legado del Fantasma’s Santos Escobar and United States Champion Logan Paul in a high-stakes men’s Money in the Bank match qualifier. Logan Paul, always one for theatrics, arrived at ringside with Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, sparking immediate tension with Brunson, who was seated in the front row. The two NBA stars shared a heated history from the recent Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Pacers eliminated the favored Knicks in a dramatic Game 7 at the very same venue.
The palpable animosity between Brunson and Haliburton only added fuel to the fiery contest in the ring. The match saw Paul attempt to secure an unfair advantage by signaling Haliburton to retrieve his signature brass knuckles. However, just as Haliburton moved to comply, Brunson leaped over the barricade, staring down his playoff rival. This momentary distraction was all Escobar needed to recover and re-enter the fray. In the ensuing chaos, Knight managed to capitalize, reversing a roll-up attempt by Paul to secure the pin and advance to the men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.
After the match, the tension escalated as Paul and Haliburton cornered the victorious Knight, their intentions clear. But Brunson wasn’t done yet. He swiftly reappeared beside Knight, wielding a steel chair. The sight of Brunson ready for battle forced Paul and Haliburton to retreat, leaving Knight and Brunson to celebrate amid the roaring approval of the Madison Square Garden crowd.
LA Knight’s victory was one of three qualifications for the Money in the Bank ladder matches on Friday night. Tiffany Stratton and Naomi also secured their spots, setting the stage for an epic showdown in Toronto. This will mark Knight’s second consecutive appearance in the men’s MITB match. He joins Jey Uso, Carmelo Hayes, Chad Gable, and Andrade, with the final participant to be determined on the upcoming “WWE Raw.” The last entrant will come from a triple threat match featuring hard-hitting European strikers: Russia’s Ilja Dragunov, Ireland’s Sheamus, and Scotland’s Drew McIntyre, who recently hospitalized CM Punk in a brutal encounter.