Post by canceled4truth on Aug 15, 2023 8:29:08 GMT -5
As we all know, whenever WWE signs a wrestler off of the independent circuit, they tend to give them a new name — to be clear, a name that often sounds like it was invented by a 13 year old lying to their parents for the first time, but a new name nonetheless. This can be especially annoying when so much of a wrestler's gimmick that got them on WWE's radar in the first place WAS tied up in that specific name; "Tyler Black" sounds a hell of a lot more like the leader of a stable of goths than "Seth Rollins."
But what happens when a wrestler's catchphrase is based off their name? This was the conundrum WWE faced when it plucked Eli Drake from NWA in 2020. You see, much like The Rock liked to question his opponents if their olfactory senses were satisfactory enough to pick up his culinary creations, Eli Drake punctuated his promos by reminding people that everyone was saying his name. All three syllables of it, in fact — "E-LI-DRAKE!"
So, when WWE signed Drake, they needed a three syllable name that rolled off the tongue well enough for FKA Drake to use in his promos without ruining his now iconic cadence. They came up with LA Knight. A name bizarre enough on its own, but even moreso when you consider that the man himself is from Maryland. It fits the beat, sure. But how on Earth did they land on "LA Knight?"
I have a hunch.
In 2008, the electronic indie group Crystal Castles released their debut album, the self-titled Crystal Castles. While technically their first studio recording, the group has been a fixture of the Canadian indie scene for a few years prior, so it got a fair amount of airplay. The 11th track off the album, at 3:13 in length, is called "Knights."
Now, like many electronic songs, "Knights" is sparse on lyrics. However, according to Genius, one line that does get repeated throughout the song is "angels die." I personally can't make out the words, but you can first hear it at 0:38 in the above video. But the lyrics do't matter here; it's the way they're said. And the way Crystal Castles stretches out those two words into three syllables is...quite reminiscent of a certain megastar, in my opinion, whether or not he calls himself Eli Drake or LA Knight.
So here's my theory, no A-Town Down: Someone in WWE creative (Triple H? Bruce? Regal? HBK? Actually, given the whole Poppy obsession, it was probably HHH) in charge of NXT went through a huge phase of indie music, perhaps around the same time they had their indie wrestling kick, listened to "Knights" by Crystal Castles, was reminded of "E-LI DRAKE" from the song just as I was, and decided "f*** it, might as well just name the dude after the song." Thoughts?
But what happens when a wrestler's catchphrase is based off their name? This was the conundrum WWE faced when it plucked Eli Drake from NWA in 2020. You see, much like The Rock liked to question his opponents if their olfactory senses were satisfactory enough to pick up his culinary creations, Eli Drake punctuated his promos by reminding people that everyone was saying his name. All three syllables of it, in fact — "E-LI-DRAKE!"
So, when WWE signed Drake, they needed a three syllable name that rolled off the tongue well enough for FKA Drake to use in his promos without ruining his now iconic cadence. They came up with LA Knight. A name bizarre enough on its own, but even moreso when you consider that the man himself is from Maryland. It fits the beat, sure. But how on Earth did they land on "LA Knight?"
I have a hunch.
In 2008, the electronic indie group Crystal Castles released their debut album, the self-titled Crystal Castles. While technically their first studio recording, the group has been a fixture of the Canadian indie scene for a few years prior, so it got a fair amount of airplay. The 11th track off the album, at 3:13 in length, is called "Knights."
Now, like many electronic songs, "Knights" is sparse on lyrics. However, according to Genius, one line that does get repeated throughout the song is "angels die." I personally can't make out the words, but you can first hear it at 0:38 in the above video. But the lyrics do't matter here; it's the way they're said. And the way Crystal Castles stretches out those two words into three syllables is...quite reminiscent of a certain megastar, in my opinion, whether or not he calls himself Eli Drake or LA Knight.
So here's my theory, no A-Town Down: Someone in WWE creative (Triple H? Bruce? Regal? HBK? Actually, given the whole Poppy obsession, it was probably HHH) in charge of NXT went through a huge phase of indie music, perhaps around the same time they had their indie wrestling kick, listened to "Knights" by Crystal Castles, was reminded of "E-LI DRAKE" from the song just as I was, and decided "f*** it, might as well just name the dude after the song." Thoughts?
