{"id":204601,"date":"2025-09-18T10:53:41","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T15:53:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=204601"},"modified":"2025-09-18T11:11:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-18T16:11:13","slug":"wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-la-knights-elevation-how-rollins-got-his-groove-back-main-event-mcintyre-cenas-selfishness-lees-losing-streak-a-sorry-stretch-of-stratt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/09\/18\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-la-knights-elevation-how-rollins-got-his-groove-back-main-event-mcintyre-cenas-selfishness-lees-losing-streak-a-sorry-stretch-of-stratt\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: LA Knight\u2019s Elevation, How Rollins Got His Groove Back, Main Event McIntyre, Cena\u2019s Selfishness, Lee\u2019s Losing Streak, a Sorry Stretch of Stratton"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1346638121\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>\u201cDo you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?\u201d \u2013 1 Corinthians 9:24<\/p>\n<p>We are all winners in life\u2026 just not all of the time. The life of a wrestler is no exception. Part of the fun of being a fan is following the careers of wrestlers through their successes and failures \u2014 not only in terms of match wins and losses, but in pulling off a witty comeback, a difficult maneuver, or an exciting promo.<\/p>\n<p>So, who\u2019s riding high, and who\u2019s down and out this week in WWE?<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Rising Star of the Week: L.A. Knight<\/h3>\n<p>Knight shined on Raw this week, despite not having a match at the upcoming Wrestlepalooza and playing something of a fifth wheel in the conflict between the Usos and BronBron (a\/k\/a Bron Breakker &amp; Bronson Reed). Knight\u2019s personality was on full display in his interactions with all four men, and he came off as the alpha male\u2014and a bigger star than any of them.<\/p>\n<p>Knight was locked in on Monday, with no trace of his typical verbal flubs or blown spots. His reactions during the main event were great as well &#8211; mocking Breakker\u2019s bark, illegally interrupting Breakker\u2019s showboating with a boot, and of course, the night\u2019s climax: offering Jey Uso a conciliatory handshake only to hit him with a BFT moments later. Knight ripped off Steve Austin in the best possible way, much to the delight of the Springfield crowd.<\/p>\n<p>Knight seems unusually inspired since coming to Raw. Thrust into the periphery of the main event scene, he truly feels like he belongs. Success as a WWE performer means making the most of every opportunity to earn greater ones going forward. L.A. Knight is doing just that.<\/p>\n<p>Could a world title run be far behind?<\/p>\n<h3>First Runner-Up: Seth Rollins<\/h3>\n<p>An unexpected beneficiary of A.J. Lee\u2019s electric return has been The Visionary himself. Facilitating Rollins\u2019 on-screen partnership with Becky Lynch has given his character a much-needed refresh.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2720480857\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Unmatched in-ring acumen, Rollins has still struggled to project a fully effective and compelling persona. His chemistry with Paul Heyman and BronBron in The Vision has been a disappointment, taking the shine off his run as Raw\u2019s top heel.<\/p>\n<p>Playing off Lynch and Lee in recent weeks has proven a far better fit. Rollins has played his role perfectly. He and Lynch feigning discord as a distraction to cheap shot their Wrestlepalooza opponents was classic heel work done right, and effectively built fan anticipation to see Punk and Lee\u2019s imminent revenge.<\/p>\n<p>Just like that, Rollins\u2019 seemingly never-ending feud with C.M. Punk gets a fresh coat of paint &#8211; as does Rollins himself. Lynch\u2019s induction into The Vision promises that her positive influence on Rollins will last beyond the current feud.<\/p>\n<p>Rollins, The Vision, and viewers of Raw should all be better off for it.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Podcast weekly Tuesday Flagship episode with guest cohost Jason Powell: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/new-flagship-keller-wells-talk-nxt-homecoming-wrestlepalooza-cena-s-impact-this-year-cody-new-japan-vaquer-tiffany-bayley-more--67788258\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NEW FLAGSHIP: Keller &amp; Wells talk NXT Homecoming, Wrestlepalooza, Cena's impact this year, Cody, New Japan, Vaquer, Tiffany, Bayley, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=67788258&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Second Runner-Up: Drew McIntyre<\/h3>\n<p>You can\u2019t keep a good man down &#8211; especially if that man is a Scottish psychopath.<\/p>\n<p>Despite being the most consistently entertaining performer on Smackdown, McIntyre hasn\u2019t had a title opportunity in well over a year. That finally changes at Wrestlepalooza, where McIntyre challenges Cody Rhodes for the WWE Championship.<br \/>\nHis trademark turn of phrase was on display in a related video post on X, where the Scottish Warrior declared: \u201cThe Rock wants Cody\u2019s soul. I want his ass.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Although McIntyre seems unlikely to dethrone the newly crowned champion, it\u2019s good to see him get the spotlight he richly deserves &#8211; hopefully the first chapter of a prolonged feud.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2498228802\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Fading Star of the Week: John Cena<\/h3>\n<p>Admittedly, John Cena delivered an inspired promo on Raw concerning his upcoming Wrestlepalooza match with Brock Lesnar. He was fierce, motivated, and had the crowd eating out of the palm of his hand.<\/p>\n<p>That said, his insistence on calling himself the \u201clast real champion\u201d is simply baffling.<\/p>\n<p>The idea that he considers himself to be above all current and future WWE talent might\u2019ve worked when he was a heel champion. A selfish, vainglorious performer nearing the end of his career might naturally push the idea that no one is &#8211; or will ever be &#8211; as great as he was.<\/p>\n<p>But now that Cena has dropped the title and returned to his babyface roots, referring to himself this way feels unbefitting. It makes it seem as if the heel persona was closer to the real man than we\u2019d like to think.<\/p>\n<p>Cena talks about prioritizing the good of WWE over himself &#8211; including helping other talent to succeed &#8211; but his actions say the opposite. Cena\u2019s 2025 singles matches have done little for his opponents, all of whom put Big Match John over. After trading wins with Rhodes, Cena barely acknowledged the new champion, let alone had the grace to endorse him.<\/p>\n<p>Pushing himself as the \u201clast real champion\u201d is disrespectful to current champions like Cody Rhodes, and to everyone on the roster working toward championship gold. His implication is that when Cena leaves WWE in a few months, legitimacy and greatness will leave with him.<\/p>\n<p>Thankfully, that\u2019s not true &#8211; but his eye-roll-inducing self-promotion might.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Did you know you can read an ad-free, lighting-fast version of this website with a PWTorch VIP Membership?<\/strong> Also, unlock 35+ years of archives including nearly 2,000 PWTorch Weekly Newsletters dating back to the late 1980s, hundreds of retro radio shows from the 1990s, and two decades of podcasts including Post-PPV Roundtable Podcasts dating back to the mid-2000s. Plus, new VIP-exclusive articles and podcasts throughout the week, fully compatible with the native Apple Podcasts app.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorchvipinfo.com\/\">CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON VIP MEMBERSHIP<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>First Runner-Up: Dragon Lee<\/h3>\n<p>As recently as 2024, Rey Mysterio dubbed Lee \u201cthe future of Lucha Libre.\u201d Lee\u2019s ringwork is second to none. He blends high-flying and power-based offense into exciting matches on Raw. While he lacks Penta\u2019s undeniable charisma, Lee has a great look and passable mic skills.<\/p>\n<p>Although a regular on Raw, Lee has rarely been featured in important storylines and has yet to receive any sort of push. At times, he seems on the verge of breaking out &#8211; only to lose again. He won only 5 of 18 matches in 2024, and just 1 of 8 so far in 2025, his lone victory coming over J.D. McDonagh last August. Raw is apparently rife with dragonslayers.<\/p>\n<p>This week, he failed to win the AAA Latin American Title at Worlds Collide and lost again to El Grande Americano on Raw, even with the intervention of A.J. Styles &#8211; continuing his losing tradition.<\/p>\n<p>Dragon Lee has the potential to be something more in WWE, but creative clearly doesn\u2019t see it. The longer WWE refrains from \u201cwaking the dragon,\u201d the more Lee is defined down &#8211; and the less chance his potential will be realized.<\/p>\n<h3>Second Runner-Up: Tiffany Stratton<\/h3>\n<p>Stratton\u2019s reign as WWE Women\u2019s Champion continues to underwhelm. Beyond a great look, a few athletic moves, and some tired catchphrases, it\u2019s not clear what she brings to the table as champ. Who is Tiffany Stratton and what does she stand for?<br \/>\nThe accomplished gymnast was rushed to the main roster despite major limitations as a performer. She lacks charisma, and her mic skills fall well below most of her peers. Recycling stale feuds with Nia Jax and Jade Cargill offers little hope for change.<\/p>\n<p>Is it Tiffy Time? To the contrary. It\u2019s past time for Stratton to pass the title to a performer more capable of capitalizing on the spotlight &#8211; giving Stratton time to develop her persona and promo skills.<\/p>\n<p>The moonsault may be pretty, but this title run has been bowling-shoe ugly.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (9\/15) - WWE Raw w\/cohost Nick Barbati\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zlvmegVne0Y?start=12&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-4040997894\"><div id=\"pwtor-1837401504\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>\u201cDo you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?\u201d \u2013 1 Corinthians 9:24 We are all winners in life\u2026 just not all of the time. The <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/09\/18\/wwe-rising-stars-fading-stars-la-knights-elevation-how-rollins-got-his-groove-back-main-event-mcintyre-cenas-selfishness-lees-losing-streak-a-sorry-stretch-of-stratt\/\" title=\"WWE RISING STARS &#038; FADING STARS: LA Knight\u2019s Elevation, How Rollins Got His Groove Back, Main Event McIntyre, Cena\u2019s Selfishness, Lee\u2019s Losing Streak, a Sorry Stretch of Stratton\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":204602,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,4309,27],"tags":[96],"class_list":["post-204601","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-rising-star-fading-star","category-specialists","tag-raw"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2025\/09\/Screenshot-2025-09-18-at-10.52.13-AM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204601","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=204601"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204601\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":204605,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/204601\/revisions\/204605"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/204602"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=204601"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=204601"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=204601"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}