Top 10 wrestling moments of 2019

#8 KOFI-Mania

Kofi Kingston celebrates winning the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35

It's hard to argue that Kofi Kingston is one of WWE's most loyal and respected performers.

However, for all that he had achieved in his career pre-2019, not many would have ever put him in world championship contention.

This would all change this year when an unfortunate injury to Mustafa Ali presented Kingston with a surprise opportunity to cement his legacy.

A late replacement in the Elimination Chamber, the New Day member put on a star turn in the match, coming so close to dethroning Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship.

Such was the response to Kofi's performance that many fans instantly called for him to get his one-one-one shot at WrestleMania.

In one of the best angles WWE did all year, Kingston was constantly forced to fight the odds to get the match of his dreams.

He had originally been granted the WWE Title match at Fastlane to challenge Bryan, only for Vince McMahon to deem Kofi unworthy and replace him with Kevin Owens. He later thought he'd been added to the match on the night, only to end up in a handicap match.

After overcoming four superstars in a gauntlet match to earn an opportunity, he would end up being hit by another curveball. It was only when his New Day brothers Xavier Woods and Big E won a similar gauntlet match that KofiMania was well-and-truly on.

WrestleMania 35 was Kingston's moment. His chance to show he truly belonged with the best in the business.

In front of his family watching at ringside, Kofi produced the match of his life, defeating Bryan for the WWE Title in arguably the bout of the night.

Say what you want about the reign that followed, but this moment itself is one that can never be taken away from Kingston.