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Who is Max Dupri? LA Knight makes WWE Smackdown debut with 'unnecessary' name change

LA Knight, who will now go by the moniker 'Max Dupri,' revealed that he was hired by Sonya Deville for the WWE Smackdown

Former NXT star LA Knight, whose real name is Shaun Ricker, made his official WWE Smackdown debut and it soon made headlines only because he got a brand new ring name — Max Dupri. The renowned wrestler introduced himself as the CEO of the hottest new modeling agency, Maximum Male Models saying that he was looking for models who could walk at Paris Fashion Week.
 
The 39-year-old pro wrestler spoke to Adam Pearce in a video posted on the WWE Twitter account revealing that he was hired by Sonya Deville for Smackdown. In the clip, Adam Pearce then says that he will talk to his lawyers on the matter. "Max Dupri" felt that Pearce could not pronounce his name right despite several failed attempts. Social media users could not digest the fact that "LA Knight" has got another ring name for WWE.
 
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Who is Max Dupri?

Max Dupri is the new name given to LA Knight for his WWE Smackdown debut on Friday, May 20. He was earlier signed to WWE on its NXT brand. Dupri is a former NWA World Tag Team Champion with James Storm. He was also a one-time Impact Global Champion in Impact Wrestling. Max Dupri appeared on the TNT reality television show ‘The Hero’ which is hosted by former WWE star The Rock.
 
Dupri’s final match for NXT took place at Stand & Deliver during WrestleMania 38 weekend last month. He lost to Gunther at the show. Dupri had earlier taken part in dark matches and dark segments before SmackDown episodes. Dupri went by the name Eli Drake prior to signing with WWE in February 2021.

‘Just don't get renaming wrestlers who y'all already renamed once’

Social media users reacted to LA Knight getting a new name for WWE Smackdown debut. “They changed LA Knight’s name to Max Dupri.  For the love of God, I hate everyone that writes this show. Every single one of them #SmackDown BUT, LA KNIGHT is so good, he’ll get the terrible f**king name over”, said one user as another shared, “Y’all gonna complain about Max Dupri when LA Knight was literally a name of a NHL team?” Meanwhile, an individual tweeted, “WWE changed LA Knight’s name to Max Dupri. Seriously f**k Bruce Prichard & Vince McMahon. This company is absolutely a f**king joke. The more unnecessary name changes, the more you will drive fans away from your terrible f**king product.”
 
The next one shared, “Max Dupri?? What happened to LA Knight?? That was already WWE’s name?? We’re rebooting the reboots now??” Another stated, “It doesn't matter what they want to call him, Max Dupri, LA Knight, Eli Drake....just put a mic in that man's hand and watch the money print itself.” One fan concluded, “Max Dupri? That's LA Knight's new name? It's not even really a bad name; I just don't get renaming wrestlers who y'all already renamed once when they came in.”