'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
On the RAW after WrestleMania Backlash, Kofi Kingston emerged as the star of the night. He defeated two bonafide World Champions in Randy Orton and Bobby Lashley.
It's a rare feat for a superstar to overcome two big names in one night, but Kofi Kingston has done it before. After being absent from any singles title picture for the last year-and-a-half, Kingston instantly found himself in a more interesting position.
At first, Kofi Kingston briefly renewed his rivalry against Randy Orton, beating him via a roll-up pin thanks to a distraction from Xavier Woods. He also answered Bobby Lashley's "open challenge" issued by MVP, where he found out only after entering that it wasn't a WWE Championship match.
Despite this, he emerged victorious, becoming the first man to pin Bobby Lashley in over four months. So why did Kofi Kingston pin both Randy Orton and WWE Champion Bobby Lashley in the same night? Here are a few reasons why.
#5. Hell in a Cell contention for Kofi Kingston
Is Kofi Kingston going to challenge Bobby Lashley at Hell in a Cell? He will be hoping to do so after pinning Bobby Lashley on RAW. Pinning a Champion is always an instant set-up for a title shot, and this could lead to a Triple Threat Hell in a Cell Match for the WWE Championship.
The only problem with this is that WWE has done quite a few Triple Threats in the last few months, so it wouldn't be as appealing. However, WWE often does Triple Threat matches right, and for some reason, it's a tried and tested formula.
Kingston is also great in big matches, and since he didn't get the chance to compete inside Hell in a Cell in 2017, he might have an opportunity for World Title gold.
It will be interesting to see if he gets added to the match at Hell in Cell.
#4. Kofi Kingston is a roadblock for Bobby Lashley to overcome on the road to Hell in a Cell
Kofi Kingston might just be a stepping stone for Bobby Lashley as Hell in a Cell is a month away. It seems clear that Drew McIntyre will be the next WWE Championship challenger on PPV, but that doesn't mean Kofi will get that spot as well.
For all we know, it might be a filler feud for Bobby Lashley for the next couple of weeks until Hell in a Cell 2021.
#3. To get as much heat on Bobby Lashley as possible
The idea behind having Kofi Kingston pin Bobby Lashley would ideally be to start a rivalry, and that's exactly what might happen. But would Kingston have any chance of displacing Bobby Lashley during the greatest run of his wrestling career?
It seems unlikely. For all we know, WWE could be using Kofi Kingston as a babyface, so Bobby Lashley gets a lot of heat for Hell in a Cell 2021.
#2. Kofi Kingston is getting a sustained, long-term push again
Kofi Kingston may be getting a sustained, long-term push. The pandemic era has seen several superstars receive unexpected pushes. Kingston's would be a bit surprising, but certainly not unexpected. He reached the World Championship level well before the COVID-19 pandemic.
WWE could simply be pushing him again. Even if he doesn't win the WWE Championship, he could get a main event push and become a solid upper midcard superstar going forward.
#1. Lack of top names on RAW
The main event scene on RAW is essentially centered around Bobby Lashley, Drew McIntyre, and last month, Braun Strowman. There is a lack of top names on the red brand with both Randy Orton and AJ Styles in the RAW tag team division.
It's a complete contrast to SmackDown, where the main event scene appears to be stacked for a few years. It will be interesting to see how long Kofi Kingston's push lasts, but if it is a sustained one, then it's a direct result of the lack of main event superstars on RAW right now.
