LA Knight

WWE

Real name: Shaun Ricker
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 229 lbs.
Date of birth: November 1, 1982
From: Hagerstown, Maryland
Pro debut: 2002
Trained by: Les Thatcher & Cody Hawk
Finishing move: Gravy Train

Biography

– Ricker began his career in NWA Wildside and HWA as ‘Deuce’
– On November 9, 2004, Deuce defeated JT Stahr to win the HWA Television Title
– During the rest of November, Deuce defended the HWA Television Title against Jon Moxley, Mike Desire, Tack and Matt Shock
– In December 2004, Deuce defended the HWA Television Title against JT Stahr, Crazy J, Brian Jennings & Lotus
– In January 2005, Ricker changed his ringname to ‘Dick Rick’
– On May 1, 2006, Rick made an appearance on WWE Heat, teaming with Jon Moxley in a Handicap loss to The Big Show
– On December 1, 2008, Ricker (under his real name) teamed with Snitsky in a dark match loss to Cryme Tyme (JTG & Shad) on ECW
– In 2009, Ricker tweaked his ringname again to ‘Dick Rick Leykis’
– In mid-2009, Ricker left HWA and began competing under his real name
– On January 29, 2010, The Natural Selection (Ricker & Brian Cage) defeated The RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma) in the final of a tournament to win the vacant M1W Tag Team Titles
– On February 5, 2010, The Natural Selection defeated Andrew Hellman & Sonny Samson to retain the M1W Tag Team Titles
– On March 26, 2010, The Natural Selection defeated Jacob Diez & Todd Chandler to retain the M1W Tag Team Titles
– On December 8, 2010, The Natural Selection defeated The RockNES Monsters (Johnny Goodtime & Johnny Yuma) to win the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– On January 7, 2011, The Natural Selection defeated Kyle Webb & Ruben Iglesias to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– The next day, The Natural Selection defeated Rasche Brown & Slymm to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– On January 28, 2011, The Natural Selection defeated Brandon Parker & Todd Chandler to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– On March 5, 2011, The Natural Selection defeated Joey Ryan & Scorpio Sky to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– On April 10, 2011, The Natural Selection defeated Joey Ryan & Colt Cabana and Young Hollywood (Brandon Parker & Todd Chandler) in separate matches to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– On May 15, 2011, The Natural Selection defeated The Tribe (Hawaiian Lion & Navajo Warrior) by DQ to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– A week later, The Natural Selection defeated Andrew Hellman & Nick Madrid to retain the NWA Heritage Tag Team Titles
– On September 2, 2011, Ricker defeated Ryan Taylor to win the EWF Heavyweight Title
– On May 5, 2013, Ricker won a 32-Man Battle Royal to win the vacant CWFH Heritage Title, defended it against Ryan Taylor, before losing it to Scorpio Sky in a Loser Leaves CWFH Match
– In late May 2013, Ricker was reported to be undergoing a medical with WWE
– Beginning on June 1, Ricker appeared on TNT’s ‘The Hero’, presented by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
– In July, Ricker reported to NXT as ‘Slate Randall’
– On October 10, 2013, Randall wrestled his first NXT match, defeating Yoshi Tatsu
– On August 1, 2014, Ricker was released from his WWE deal
– Ricker appeared at TNA’s One Night Only: GutCheck, defeating Crazzy Steve, before losing a 5-Way Match to Camacho
– At the March 2015 Impact tapings, Ricker made his official TNA debut as part of Drew Galloway’s ‘The Rising’ stable under the name ‘Eli Drake’
– On July 1, 2015, The Rising were forced to disband, following a loss to The Beatdown Clan. Drake turned heel two weeks later
– Drake was drawn into the ‘Future 4’ group of the TNA World Title Series. Wins over Jessie Godderz & Crimson and a double-countout against Micah saw him top the group and advance to the knockout round, where he was defeated by Mahabali Shera
– On January 26, 2016, Drake earned a King of the Mountain Title shot in a Feast or Fired Match. It was later revealed that Drake had cheated his way into the opportunity by peeking at the contents of the case, but was allowed to keep his opportunity anyway
– On April 23, 2016, Drake cashed in his Feast or Fired briefcase and defeated Bram to win the TNA King of the Mountain Title
– In June 2016, Drake was part of Team USA TNA at the AAA Lucha Libre World Cup
– At Slammiversary ’16, Drake defeated Bram to retain the TNA King of the Mountain Title
– On July 9, 2016, Drake (wrestling as ‘El Hijo del Trump’) defeated Blue Demon Jr to win the PWR Heavyweight Title
– At Bound For Glory ’16, Drake won a 10-Man Gauntlet Match, earning himself a future TNA Title opportunity
– On October 15, Drake (as ‘El Hijo del Trump) retained the PWR Heavyweight Title against Blue Demon Jr, following a DQ loss
– At One Night Only: December ’16, Drake defeated Grado
– On January 7, 2017, Drake was one of 4 ‘Race for the Case’ winners, earning himself a future title match
– On April 15, El Hijo de Trump defeated Ultimo Panda to retain the PWR Heavyweight Title, before retaining (albeit through a DQ loss) against Juventud Guerrera
– At One Night Only: No Surrender ’17, Drake defeated James Storm
– On August 17, Drake won a 20-Man Gauntlet Match to win the vacant GFW World Title
– At Victory Road ’17, Drake defeated Johnny Impact to retain the GFW World Title
– On September 4, Drake defeated Mascara de Bronce to retain the GFW World Title
– On October 1, Drake defeated Cody Hall to retain the GFW World Title
– On October 14, Drake defeated A1 to retain the GFW World Title
– On October 21, Drake defeated Montego Seeka to retain the GFW World Title
– At Bound For Glory ’17, Drake defeated Johnny Impact to retain the GFW World Title
– In November 2017, Drake defended the now-renamed Impact Global Title against Petey Williams, Alberto El Patron, Johnny Impact and Jack Swagger
– On December 9, Drake defeated Alberto El Patron to retain the Impact Global Title
– On January 13, 2018, Drake won a briefcase in the Impact Feast or Fired Match. Two days later, he defeated Moose to win a second briefcase. It was revealed that Drake had earned a World and Tag Team Title shot
– At Impact Redemption, Drake & Scott Steiner defeated The LAX (Ortiz & Santana) to win the Impact Tag Team Titles
– At Impact Under Pressure, Drake defeated Steiner
– On March 1, 2019, Drake defeated Markus Burke & Marko Estrada to win the UCW Heavyweight Title, but would lose it to Riddick Stone the next day
– Drake’s contract with Impact Wrestling was terminated on April 7, 2019 following disparaging comments he had made about intergender wrestling
– Drake began working for the NWA in September 2019
– At Hard Times 2020, Drake & James Storm defeated The Rock N Roll Express (Ricky Morton & Robert Gibson) and The Wild Cards (Royce Isaacs & Thomas Latimer) to win the NWA Tag Team Titles
– On January 26, 2020, Drake & Storm defeated The Bouncers (Brian Milonas & The Beer City Bruiser) to retain the NWA Tag Team Titles
– Ricker returned to WWE at the Takeover: Vengeance Day event, revealing his new name as ‘LA Knight’
– At Takeover: In Your House 2021, Knight defeated Cameron Grimes in a Ladder Match to win the vacant Million Dollar Title
– At The Great American Bash 2021, Knight defeated Grimes to retain the Million Dollar Title
– Knight was called up to Smackdown for the May 20, 2022 episode, working as ‘Max Dupri’, the leader of the Maximum Male Models stable
– In September, Dupri abandoned his stable and reverted to the LA Knight gimmick
– At Summerslam 2023, Knight won a battle royal match
– At Payback 2023, Knight defeated The Miz with John Cena as special guest referee
– At Fastlane 2023, Knight & John Cena defeated The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa)
– At Tribute To The Troops 2023, Knight & Randy Orton defeated The Bloodline (Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa)
– At WrestleMania XL Sunday, Knight defeated AJ Styles
– At Summerslam 2024, Knight defeated Logan Paul to win the WWE United States Title
– On the August 23 Smackdown, Knight defeated Santos Escobar to retain the WWE United States Title
– On the August 30 Smackdown, Knight defeated Ludwig Kaiser to retain the WWE United States Title
– On the September 20 Smackdown, Knight defeated Andrade to retain the WWE United States Title
– On the October 11 Smackdown, Knight defeated Carmelo Hayes to retain the WWE United States Title
– At Crown Jewel 2024, Knight defeated Carmelo Hayes & Andrade to retain the WWE United States Title