The 4 underlying themes in Kofi Kingston's journey to WrestleMania 35

It is finally happening. After all the drama and emotions, the WWE Universe is finally getting the match they have wanted all this while. Kofi Kingston would square off against Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship at the 'Grandest Stage Of Them All', WrestleMania 35.

It would have unimaginable to consider this match a possibility at the beginning of this year. The story that began with an unfortunate sidelining of Mustafa Ali for Elimination Chamber and him being replaced with Kofi Kingston, has the potential to become of one of the best stories WWE has told to its audiences.

Let us look at all the themes and stories that the WWE creative team has successfully portrayed through this historic storyline, which involves not just Kofi Kingston and Daniel Bryan, but a few other key figures as well.

#1 The story of hard work and determination

Kofi

Kinsgton

at Elimination Chamber 2019

Kofi Kingston's journey to WrestleMania 35 as the #1 Contender for the WWE Championship has been an epitome of how hard work, determination and loyalty can help any individual to fulfill his/her dreams.

Despite consistently putting in all the efforts for 11 years, Kofi Kingston has always been considered a 'B+ player', who is not a big enough to win the WWE Championship and to headline an event like WrestleMania as a singles wrestler. However, Kofi Kingston silenced all the critics and doubters with marvelous performances in the Gauntlet match that took in the go-home episode of Smackdown Live before Elimination Chamber 2019 and the Elimination Chamber match.

It looked as if Kofi would be rewarded for his performances with a title opportunity at Fastlane 2019. However, this dream was snatched at the very last minute by Vince McMahon as he inserted Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali into the eventual championship match instead.

Kofi Kingston had to go through another Gauntlet match to get his opportunity at WrestleMania 35

To prove his worthiness as a performer and fulfill his dream of going to WrestleMania, Kofi had to go through a Gauntlet match against Randy Orton, Samoa Joe, The Bar and Eric Rowan. Kofi, once again, gave a miraculous performance as he defeated all these individuals, only to be left high and dry as Vince McMahon put another obstacle in the way, Daniel Bryan, which Kofi was unable to overcome.

Courtesy of such marathon performances at almost a weekly basis, Kofi Kingston has truly become the poster boy of hard work and determination in the WWE right now.

#2 The story of hypocrisy

The "New" Daniel Bryan - the man who has become what he fought against 5 years ago

5 years ago, the world witnessed "the miracle on Bourbon Street" at WrestleMania 30, as Daniel Bryan triumphed against Triple H, Randy Orton and Batista to become the WWE World Heavyweight Champion. The "B+ Player" at the time, as perceived by the McMahon family at the time, Bryan overcame all the odds and told one of the greatest underdog of all time.

In 2019, the tables have comprehensively turned. Daniel Bryan is the WWE Champion and as the Champion, he tried to create obstacles in the way of Kofi Kingston in becoming the #1 Contender for Bryan's Championship at WrestleMania 35. Why? Because according to him, Kofi Kingston is a "B+ player" and does not deserve any championship opportunity.

Through this underlying theme, WWE creative has successfully shown that Daniel Bryan has become what he fought against 5 years. In the process, he has become the biggest heel in WWE right now.

#3 The story of friendship and brotherhood

The New Day - the epitome of friendship and brotherhood

Kofi Kingston's journey to WrestleMania 35 is not just about Kofi's 11 years of hard work. However, it is also about the friendship and brotherhood shared between Kofi Kingston, Big E and Xavier Woods. The New Day has been an integral part of the WWE Universe for 5 years now and has seen the journey from 'New Day Sucks' chants to 'New Day Rocks' chants.

While the bond shared between the three has been on display every week through the tag team feuds they have been involved in over the years, their friendship was put to a real test by Vince McMahon on the March 26, 2019 episode of Smackdown Live. In order to give Kofi Kingston the opportunity to face Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35, Xavier Woods and Big E were required to face 5 other tag teams in a Gauntlet match.

For an opportunity which would not be given to these two individuals but to another person, Big E and Xavier Woods showed the ultimate example of friendship as they fought their hearts out to end up victorious in the Gauntlet match and make Kofi Kingston's dreams come true of headlining WrestleMania 35.

#4 The story of mutual respect

At a time when every now and then, tag teams are ended and friendships are broken to further individual careers. The story of how the Smackdown Live roster has rallied behind Kofi Kingston's bid to get a much deserved WWE Championship opportunity at WrestleMania 35 is an aberration from what the WWE has showed so far.

The backstage interviews of various superstars in Smackdown Live have seen numerous mentions of how deserving Kofi is for this opportunity and how supportive they are of him. During Kofi Kingston's gauntlet match, while Kofi was putting on a performance of a lifetime to win his opportunity, a large majority of the Smackdown Live cheered vehemently for Kofi Kingston.

We saw similar scenes during Big E and Xavier Woods' Gauntlet match wherein a number of superstars rallied behind the New Day and rooted for them to overcome all the odds. In an ultimate show of respect, the long time rivals of The New Day, the Usos, decided to forfeit their match during the Gauntlet match in what is arguably one of the most memorable and endearing moments of Smackdown Live history.

Such camaraderie and mutual respect on WWE TV has been unheard of till now and this story has superseded these norms.