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Kofi Kingston once again put on an absolute clinic. Entering first from the pods, he lasted all the way until the end, when Daniel Bryan ended up defeating him, much to the ire of the crowd.
We've heard Bryan get many great babyface reactions before, but who would have imagined that at one point, the crowd would be desperate for him to lose? He's no longer the underdog fan favourite from all those years ago.
If you think about it, it has been nearly five years since his great WrestleMania moment. But 2019 is different. In the time between then and now, he faced another injury, was forced to retire from wrestling, had a relatively long stint as SmackDown General Manager, made his in-ring return, turned heel and won the WWE title again.
He's thrived as WWE champion, but Kofi Kingston has suddenly thrived in the last five days. After his amazing performance at the Gauntlet match on SmackDown Live, he once again stole the show.
He lasted till the very end, and though he didn't win, he proved that he's ready for the big time. Here's why Kofi Kingston vs Daniel Bryan needs to be the match to make at WrestleMania 35.
#5 He's the hottest superstar on SmackDown Live
It's incredible to think that on a roster that has the top stars comprised of Daniel Bryan, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, Randy Orton, Jeff Hardy, Andrade, Rey Mysterio, that Kofi Kingston is the hottest star on SmackDown.
We've seen the wonders that one performance can do, but with back-to-back performances of this calibre, there is simply no hotter superstar on the roster. If they put in the effort, they can keep his momentum alive. There's really no superstar you can name off the top of your head more deserving of it.
#4 Long, long overdue
It's easy to forget just how long Kofi Kingston has been with WWE. He's been with the company for around 11 years and has seen some incredible character progression; from the Jamaican character he was on the verge of being a breakout star early on, but something went wrong and it didn't happen.
This isn't to say he's had a bad career by any means. He's been tag champion (a record-breaking one at that), Intercontinental Champion and even United States Champion. Proportionately, there have been few superstars who have been champion as long Kingston has in his career.
However, it's the big one that matters the most and for years, fans have been clamouring for Kofi Kingston to win the big one. For someone who's put in his blood, sweat and tears for the company for so long, it's almost impossible to deny that Kofi Kingston deserves the accolade.
#3 The best possible payoff to the Daniel Bryan storyline
Daniel Bryan has been killing it as a heel. When he turned heel in November last year right before Survivor Series and won the WWE Championship, it took the world by storm, and no one expected that Bryan would find the level of success that he has as a heel, especially given his history of being the biggest babyface in the company (and of the PG era).
Every heel championship run needs to have its payoff, and what better way to end the reign than at the Grandest Stage Of Them All? AJ Styles is done with Daniel Bryan, and will likely face Randy Orton at WrestleMania.
With the other top stars occupied in their own right, Kofi Kingston winning the title really does feel like it's the best payoff for this Daniel Bryan heel turn storyline. We could see a new side of Kofi Kingston.
#2 A potential WrestleMania classic
Daniel Bryan vs Kofi Kingston at WrestleMania 35 has all the makings of a WrestleMania classic. Daniel Bryan, since his in-ring return, has adjusted his style in such a way that he still wrestles like the Bryan of old, just in a much safer way.
Kofi Kingston, on the other hand, has had numerous classics over the last decade, mostly with The New Day. But if anything was indicated in the final minutes of the Chamber match, it was that Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan have chemistry.
What happens when you put two elite-level competitors at the biggest stage of them all? Bryan vs Kingston is bound to be an instant classic, and that's exactly the kind of match you want at WrestleMania.
Sure, they won't be main eventing the show, but with Seth Rollins busy with Brock Lesnar, and the main event potentially featuring 3 of the top female stars of the company, this leaves an opening on the blue brand.
#1 A chance for a new direction
Not only would Kofi Kingston winning be one of the greatest feel-good moments, but it would also mark a major change in direction of WWE storylines and Kingston as well.
For one, it would be a major change for The New Day. They've dominated the tag team division wherever they went for the past four years or so, and Xavier Woods and Big E have made their biggest goal clear - to help Kofi Kingston become WWE Champion.
If Kofi does win, it would officially be his return to singles stardom. He doesn't necessarily need to "break up" with The New Day for this to happen. He could still very much be a part of the trio while the other two continue their work in the tag team division.
Or, they could do an angle where the trio simply separates on good terms, something we never really see in WWE.
