If the story of Kofi Kingston's journey to the WWE Title at WrestleMania 35 feels familiar....it's because it is. Prior to WrestleMania 30, Daniel Bryan was the B+ Player who was too small and held down by the Authority. But overwhelming fan support helped propel Bryan to the main event of WrestleMania 30 despite what had been planned. Now, Kofi is on a similar path, ironically against Bryan himself.
Speaking on a media call (via SPORTbible), Kofi discussed the parallels between KofiMania and the Yes Movement.
"I think it is similar. It is awesome when the WWE Universe is dictating what happens on WWE television. Vince came on RAW and Smackdown a few months ago and said they were going to listen to the people, and that's what the WWE Universe wants, to be listened to," stated Kofi. "When something like the 'Yes Movement' happens organically, it's not written in the writers room, it's not a story that people think about and it just happens, it's an organic storyline. There's definitely a lot of similarities where the universe has just hijacked the show. They made their voices and opinions very well known and I'm very appreciative of them."
Much like Bryan, Kofi was viewed as a B+ Player due to his lack of size. In the famed Land of the Giants, Kofi's small stature is viewed as a negative despite his elite athleticism and overall in-ring and character work.
"I was never going to be the one to get recognition because of my looks. There are guys who are way taller than me, weigh a lot more than me, are stronger than me, not faster than me but all other aspects people get recognised and looked at and opportunities based on how they look," said Kofi. "I've been fighting that battle my entire lifetime. To get to WWE I was told I wasn't big enough, I wasn't strong enough and low and behold here I am, multiple time champion, hopefully soon we can say I'm WWE champion!"
While Bryan's journey to the WrestleMania main event ended with him winning the WWE Title, Kofi's journey is not yet complete. After failing to defeat Bryan this past Tuesday on SmackDown, Kofi is still without a match at WrestleMania 35.
