The Curious Case of LA Knight and Other WrestleMania 42 Conspiracy Theories

Pro wrestling fans often craft conspiracy theories around WWE booking. 

Why not? It's all part of the fun. There's a blurred-lines aspect of the product in 2026 and WWE has happily walked that line, overstepped it and everything in between while telling stories. 

But it's rare that real conspiracy theories pop up around a WWE that is pretty clearly panicking and changing plans at the last minute before WrestleMania. 

In fact, there are some marquee conspiracies making the rounds right now that aren't just dismissible with a wave of the hand as just standard WWE things. 

It's a problem when the following grab bag of very real conspiracy theories right now is arguably more entertaining than the product WWE is trying to present going into 'Mania. 

WWE conspiracy No. 1: The Royce Keyes mystery

Powerhouse Hobbs finally debuted in WWE as Royce Keyes at the Royal Rumble and it was great! 

He hasn't been seen since. 

That's only a slight exaggeration. Normally, when WWE forces a big debut into the Royal Rumble, it's before putting the Superstar into a big program while the hype is high. 

Instead, fans have seen rumors about why Keyes isn't featured more. According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider (h/t SI's Matt Black), Keyes still needs time to get "acclimated" to the WWE product. 

Not hard to see why fans might have conspiracies here. Is he hurt? Are there no creative plans? No way to fit him onto a massive two-night 'Mania?

WWE conspiracy No. 2: Bron Breakker's injury is a cover-up

In most sports, speculation about injuries is a big no-no. 

WWE so consistently makes injuries part of storylines, though, that it's hard to blame fans for wondering about the Bron Breakker situation. 

Breaker looked like the top guy going into WrestleMania after Seth Rollins' injury.

But…now he's hurt. It just so happens to align with the timing that has Rollins back from injury, Brock Lesnar's doing an open challenge, Cody Rhodes has a title on his waist again and Oba Femi is very obviously going to get a top billing on the 'Mania card. 

Breakker, meanwhile, was very openly viewed by fans as steadily improving on the mic with Paul Heyman at his side during weekly segments. He was almost a community-agreed work in progress, in a good way. 

Make no mistake, the injury is almost undoubtedly legitimate, but again, hard to blame fans, given the state of things, that they look at this like WWE pivoting off a guy not yet ready to main event a 'Mania. 

WWE conspiracy No. 3: AJ Styles' Hall of Fame drama

AJ Styles didn't do a retirement tour like John Cena. He had a few matches, left his gloves in the ring, then got a really, really awkward Hall of Fame announcement from Undertaker himself. 

Sidebar: Undertaker's new role in WWE of being the guy who shows up to take careers to the "morgue" of the Hall of Fame? It's a banger and WWE should keep leaning into it. 

Anyway, fan speculation at the time was rampant that Styles might go to AEW or some other promotion. So much so, he hit the podcast circuit and shot down rumors of leaving WWE. 

Give the fans some credit, though: It would be very on brand for WWE to almost ambush Styles with the announcement, with the motives about brand-hopping wrapped up in the whole thing. 

Unlikely, sure. Fun to think about? In a weird sort of way, yes. 

WWE conspiracy No. 4: Cody Rhodes' title win is a panic-driven decision

This one has some layers. 

WWE is panicking big time about 'Mania. The endless last-second booking changes say that well enough. So does Cody Rhodes suddenly stopping the title off Drew McIntrye so they can set up Rhodes vs. Randy Orton. WrestleMania ticket sales are a serious problem, too. 

Did anyone mention there is speculation that Drew McIntyre is taking time off to film a movie soon?

All of this might be the most believable conspiracy of the bunch. It would be very on brand for WWE to go with the silly old-school idea that having a belt on Rhodes instead of McIntyre might draw more eyeballs. But it's the biggest show of the year and will get the eyeballs regardless, right? 

Rhodes and Orton have a history and a fun story to tell, sure. But the panic is palpable. 

WWE conspiracy No. 5: LA Knight's time is soon

Everything about LA Knight just feels too convenient. 

It feels like WWE is working hard to make Knight a dunce. He's always around the main event scene, but never a threat. He's botching massive, massive spots in things like the Elimination Chamber, consistently. And he's spotlighted as a massive meme on social media for his schooling at the hands of Triple H backstage on WWE Unreal. 

It's all really, really convenient. 

Is this some form of new-era booking across multiple platforms and products to get fans on the side of Knight? Is he supposed to be some lovable loser who always comes up short in the biggest moments…until he doesn't?

Constant speculation has said Knight could be Brock Lesnar's opponent at 'Mania. Maybe that doesn't happen. But it's another example of him just so happening to be right at the very top of the biggest events. 

Wishful thinking from fans? Creative WWE booking? Knight really just flops in big moments? Maybe some mixture of everything, but WWE is sure to claim it was all a plan in the end if it all works out.