Give Kofi the strap.

[Mister Pigwell]

Has Kofi ever had a throw away 1v1 top title match?

[Deleted]

Feb 16, 2019 22:02:32 GMT -5 Mister Pigwell said:

Has Kofi ever had a throw away 1v1 top title match?

Looking it up his only shots have been in the Rumble and a couple of Elimination Chambers.

[Mister Pigwell]

Feb 16, 2019 22:28:33 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Feb 16, 2019 22:02:32 GMT -5 Mister Pigwell said:

Has Kofi ever had a throw away 1v1 top title match?

Looking it up his only shots have been in the Rumble and a couple of Elimination Chambers.

Then there's the story.
Dude is super decorated and tenured and never even been given a shot.

In kayfabe, he's been literally overlooked.

[schma]

Not sure if this was mentioned yet but wwe.com has an article titled Why Kofi Kingston Should Win the WWE Championship on Sunday.

[EoE: Well There's Your Problem]

I’ve been a Kofi Kingston guy since his very first TV match in the company in 2008, I don’t know what it was, it might have been some colourful attire, some flashy moves, I don’t know, but I always enjoyed his work.

There isn’t anyone in that company that I want to see finally win the big one more than him.

[A Platypus Rave is Correct]

Feb 17, 2019 2:05:43 GMT -5 schma said:

Not sure if this was mentioned yet but wwe.com has an article titled Why Kofi Kingston Should Win the WWE Championship on Sunday.

so... Kofi kingston will not be winning the title on Sunday...

That said why would the WWE title an article like that... there's no SHOULD in the WWE in kayfabe...

the idea is it's a competitive semi-meritocracy (in that the idea is the best competitor gets the championship... but even in kayfabe it's been mentioned that some people always get teh chance to show they are but still)

[Deleted]

I'd love to be a fly on the wall to hear their reasons for not pulling the trigger on a Kofi reign. Want to build back some goodwill from an increasingly bitter fanbase? Want to take a sizable step towards dispelling the idea that a glass ceiling exists? Do this. Ya'll strapped up Jack Swagger and Jinder Mahal, for f***'s sake.

[facethatrunstheplace]

If this is going to happen he needs to be built up for it. Kofi is only in this match due to Mustafa Ali's injuries. So I don't think that he should win the title at elimination chamber tonight.

[Tea & Crumpets]

Feb 17, 2019 3:09:08 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave is Correct said:

Feb 17, 2019 2:05:43 GMT -5 schma said:

Not sure if this was mentioned yet but wwe.com has an article titled Why Kofi Kingston Should Win the WWE Championship on Sunday.

so... Kofi kingston will not be winning the title on Sunday...

That said why would the WWE title an article like that... there's no SHOULD in the WWE in kayfabe...

the idea is it's a competitive semi-meritocracy (in that the idea is the best competitor gets the championship... but even in kayfabe it's been mentioned that some people always get teh chance to show they are but still)

Because a lot of WWE, and outside-WWE wrestling in general, stopped giving a f*** about even trying to present a veneer of kayfabe years ago, the only time we remotely see it is some social media working that tends to just outrage and upset fans who don't realise it's kayfabe- in part because they also spend a shitload of time on social media explicitly acknowledging that kayfabe is dead and wrestling is a work. And then you have a contingent of fans who go "pfft everyone knows its fake why bother with kayfabe thats so dated and carny" so WWE just go "yeah, f*** it, why put that effort in?"

One of my biggest gripes with a lot of modern wrestling is the utter abandonment of kayfabe and the emphasis on 'IM THE BEST WORKER SO GIVE ME A TITLE PUSH' 'I CUT GOOD PROMOS AND SELL MERCH SO I SHOULD BE BOOKED ON TOP' 'IM SUCH A DRAW' style booking. And like I say it's not just WWE, it's everywhere- its the one thing I hate about the Elite for instance and even Tanahashi got infected with it for his Omega feud. Who the f*** should I care? Why the f*** do I care who sells the most action figures? And why the f*** in-universe should a supposed combat-sports title be openly acknowledged to actually be a merit badge for being good at sales? At some point "being the best wrestler" went even in kayfabe from being successful to having the most moves or star ratings and it's absurd- the match quality and star ratings and moves etc. should be used to tell the story of the match or title pursuit or feud. The moves & flips & out-of-universe workrate shouldn't BE the story, because that's not even a story.

And honestly this is the only problem I have with the "Give Kofi the title" thing- it's always come with a lot of "Kofi should win because he's an out-of-kayfabe good worker who moves merchandise and has been a loyal veteran". Such as this article. That's not a story, that's an out of universe justification but in universe that completely breaks the conceit that it's a competition. And yes kayfabe is dead nobody really BELIEVES it's a real competition but it's a damn sight more interesting to watch any kind of entertainment that lets you believe in it rather than reminding you every 30 seconds it's all fake. Especially when kayfabe is dead because booking refuses to even try and build any veneer of it, the only company in recent years to consistently do so is Lucha Underground (New Japan does for most of the time but then you get the meta-promos from the Elite that kind of shit on that) but even LU had the weird disconnect where its universe didnt inhabit any of the other universe.

To get back on topic from this unintentionally Cornette-esque rant and finish off that last point though- I would absolutely be on board with a Kofi title run if they have a good in-kayfabe story, even if that story is just 'The New Day want to help their buddy Kofi win the title because he's never had a 1 on 1 shot and hes their boy so they will help him'. And since the WWE are now doing this and giving Kofi a storyline reason to be in the title picture, I say do it. Give him the title, short run and maybe drop it to Big E with or without a heel turn/split because either way there's a built in program there, see how it goes. Just don't give him the title because Whatculture posted "5 shoot reasons why Kofi should get a turn", it cheapens what could be a great story & moment.

[Deleted]

If it is to work, he does well but comes up short tonight, gets a 1 on 1 with Bryan at fastlane where DB cheats to win, the smackdowns between these matches and mania can have a lot of character work for Kofi with promos and videos showing up how hard working and popular he is, how hes been overlooked, hype the shit out of Kofi as the forgotten man, not unlike how Bryan was promoted just before WM30 you can have The New Day supporting him with Big E every now and then making a catty jealous remark hiding as banter to foreshadow what will doubtless happen six months down the road.

Then at mania, they have a great match (maybe 3 way with AJ) and Kofi...loses, clean as a whistle. Sorry but Becky and possibly Rollins will be getting their mania moments Kofi is the overlooked man once again and hes sent to the back of the line with all hope lost..

That sets up a 'summer of Kingston' angle where he finds redemption by beating all who face him (again TND tension could rise here) he cleanly knocks off Orton at backlash to win number 1 contender status.

Come MITB, Kofi v Bryan. It's been made clear this is Kofi's last ever chance and if he blows this he's never getting another shot (think Punk's battles with Morrison or Zayn's with Neville) a 30 minute match ends with the running knee reversed into trouble in paradise and confetti falls as Kofi finally wins the big one. Maybe the MITB winner decides to hit their music, maybe they don't...what tension if Big E or Woods have won the case earlier in the night?

[Citizen Snips]

Feb 16, 2019 22:32:31 GMT -5 Mister Pigwell said:

Feb 16, 2019 22:28:33 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Looking it up his only shots have been in the Rumble and a couple of Elimination Chambers.

Then there's the story.
Dude is super decorated and tenured and never even been given a shot.

In kayfabe, he's been literally overlooked.

They used the same story (well, minus the super-decorated part but with an arguably bigger name) when Hacksaw Duggan got a couple Intercontinental Title shots against HBK in the early days of Monday Night Raw. Even though Duggan was well past his glory days in the company, he was still a huge sentimental favorite with the crowd. It's a solid story to tell.

[willywonka666]

This seems so obvious-that's why I think they won't do it.

[Instant Classic]

So many people I’d rather see over Kofi getting the title. If it happens tho it’d be cool.

[Corre.222]

If Kofi Kingston doesn't win the belt against the New Daniel Bryan in Wrestlemania, WWE can f*** right the hell off.

If they don't do this, WWE is saying they were LYING when they "Shook up WWE" & the "Fans" are the authority

[schma]

Feb 16, 2019 22:32:31 GMT -5 Mister Pigwell said:

Feb 16, 2019 22:28:33 GMT -5 Lizuka #BLM said:

Looking it up his only shots have been in the Rumble and a couple of Elimination Chambers.

Then there's the story.
Dude is super decorated and tenured and never even been given a shot.

In kayfabe, he's been literally overlooked.

Yeah, this is the perfect story to tell, especially with all the times he seemed about to burst through that ceiling.  Hell Miz is a face right now, he could talk up his longtime rival and deliver something pretty convincing in favour of Kofi.

Feb 17, 2019 7:26:03 GMT -5 facethatrunstheplace said:

If this is going to happen he needs to be built up for it. Kofi is only in this match due to Mustafa Ali's injuries. So I don't think that he should win the title at elimination chamber tonight.

My guess is if they roll with this he makes it to the final two and just barely comes up short, setting up Daniel Bryan's WM feud.  For once it'd be WWE rolling with the punches rather deftly.

Feb 17, 2019 7:47:46 GMT -5 Tea & Crumpets said:

Feb 17, 2019 3:09:08 GMT -5 A Platypus Rave is Correct said:

so... Kofi kingston will not be winning the title on Sunday...

That said why would the WWE title an article like that... there's no SHOULD in the WWE in kayfabe...

the idea is it's a competitive semi-meritocracy (in that the idea is the best competitor gets the championship... but even in kayfabe it's been mentioned that some people always get teh chance to show they are but still)

Because a lot of WWE, and outside-WWE wrestling in general, stopped giving a f*** about even trying to present a veneer of kayfabe years ago, the only time we remotely see it is some social media working that tends to just outrage and upset fans who don't realise it's kayfabe- in part because they also spend a shitload of time on social media explicitly acknowledging that kayfabe is dead and wrestling is a work. And then you have a contingent of fans who go "pfft everyone knows its fake why bother with kayfabe thats so dated and carny" so WWE just go "yeah, f*** it, why put that effort in?"

One of my biggest gripes with a lot of modern wrestling is the utter abandonment of kayfabe and the emphasis on 'IM THE BEST WORKER SO GIVE ME A TITLE PUSH' 'I CUT GOOD PROMOS AND SELL MERCH SO I SHOULD BE BOOKED ON TOP' 'IM SUCH A DRAW' style booking. And like I say it's not just WWE, it's everywhere- its the one thing I hate about the Elite for instance and even Tanahashi got infected with it for his Omega feud. Who the f*** should I care? Why the f*** do I care who sells the most action figures? And why the f*** in-universe should a supposed combat-sports title be openly acknowledged to actually be a merit badge for being good at sales? At some point "being the best wrestler" went even in kayfabe from being successful to having the most moves or star ratings and it's absurd- the match quality and star ratings and moves etc. should be used to tell the story of the match or title pursuit or feud. The moves & flips & out-of-universe workrate shouldn't BE the story, because that's not even a story.

And honestly this is the only problem I have with the "Give Kofi the title" thing- it's always come with a lot of "Kofi should win because he's an out-of-kayfabe good worker who moves merchandise and has been a loyal veteran". Such as this article. That's not a story, that's an out of universe justification but in universe that completely breaks the conceit that it's a competition. And yes kayfabe is dead nobody really BELIEVES it's a real competition but it's a damn sight more interesting to watch any kind of entertainment that lets you believe in it rather than reminding you every 30 seconds it's all fake. Especially when kayfabe is dead because booking refuses to even try and build any veneer of it, the only company in recent years to consistently do so is Lucha Underground (New Japan does for most of the time but then you get the meta-promos from the Elite that kind of shit on that) but even LU had the weird disconnect where its universe didnt inhabit any of the other universe.

To get back on topic from this unintentionally Cornette-esque rant and finish off that last point though- I would absolutely be on board with a Kofi title run if they have a good in-kayfabe story, even if that story is just 'The New Day want to help their buddy Kofi win the title because he's never had a 1 on 1 shot and hes their boy so they will help him'. And since the WWE are now doing this and giving Kofi a storyline reason to be in the title picture, I say do it. Give him the title, short run and maybe drop it to Big E with or without a heel turn/split because either way there's a built in program there, see how it goes. Just don't give him the title because Whatculture posted "5 shoot reasons why Kofi should get a turn", it cheapens what could be a great story & moment.

In the case of Kofi it's not simply that he's a good guy and a veteran.  Still the idea of a thank you run has been around for a long time.  Regal nearly had one as have some others.  You also have cases of lifelong midcarders suddenly rising to the top late in their careers like Mark Henry.  I agree though that there is a program in Kofi/Big E for the title, especially if they don't break up.

As far as who is most popular and sells the most merch, etc, that's been a part of wrestling forever.  Hogan was top champion for so long in the 80s because he was that guy who sells merch like crazy.  His in-ring work got worse and worse but kids were still entranced and he made the company money so he stayed on top.  That said, it being the focus of a feud might work if done well, but it might flop hard.

[Hit Girl]

Kofi should get the plates, but Daniel Bryan should be allowed to keep and smoke the strap.

[Tea & Crumpets]

Feb 17, 2019 16:04:12 GMT -5 schma said:

In the case of Kofi it's not simply that he's a good guy and a veteran.  Still the idea of a thank you run has been around for a long time.  Regal nearly had one as have some others.  You also have cases of lifelong midcarders suddenly rising to the top late in their careers like Mark Henry.  I agree though that there is a program in Kofi/Big E for the title, especially if they don't break up.

As far as who is most popular and sells the most merch, etc, that's been a part of wrestling forever.  Hogan was top champion for so long in the 80s because he was that guy who sells merch like crazy.  His in-ring work got worse and worse but kids were still entranced and he made the company money so he stayed on top.  That said, it being the focus of a feud might work if done well, but it might flop hard.

I'd say Regal and Henry both had great in-story pushes though, it wasn't just a case of "they're suddenly in the main event because they're tenured vets". Like I say I'm totally onboard with a Kofi run if there's a story behind it, and thankfully it looks like there is- I don't go with the "Give him the title just because he's been a long serving solid worker" sentiment, because on that rationale almost everyone on the roster would get a title run- these are all very dedicated, hardworking guys with a lot of talent. But at the same time I'm a Kofi fan and it would be nice to see him with the title if there's a good build for it.

And oh yeah I know that merch sales have always been part of it and I don't disagree with pushing popular guys because, yeah that's kind of the whole point. I just find it weird when fans act like merch sales are a reason to like a guy from an audience perspective, or when "I sell the most merch so I deserve a push" creeps into storyline elements because again, in-story it's meant to be more a meritocracy based on wins and losses than on branding- or at least, used to be. Post-attitude era not so much, Austin/McMahon was a legendary game changing rivalry that won Vince the Wars but it also heralded the era of kayfabe merit being replaced with brand identity and wins & losses ceasing to matter.

Like I say I'm fully onboard with a Kofi title run- I just really want it to matter and mean something from a storyline perspective too- precisely because I'm a fan who'd like to see him get a shot, and don't want it to be wasted with "this is a pat on the back for being around so long" sentiment or meta crap. Regal winning the title would have felt epic from an in-story perspective after his power trip, Henry's title win was an AMAZING moment in-story because of the build. I want Kofi to get that sort of moment that feels more than just a "thank you for your service". And right now it looks like he's got a chance of doing that, and that's awesome- I just want more of that and less of those WWE.com style "Here's why Kofi should get a push" insider articles.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Match is official at Fastlane

I predict Kofi loses via bullshit like Harper returning and joining Bryan. Which will set up the Mania Match

People are being super cynical right now but I wanna believe WWE has a braincell left.

[Mister Pigwell]

I believe in KofiMania.

[Dub H]

Feb 19, 2019 22:06:34 GMT -5 Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-] said:

Match is official at Fastlane

I predict Kofi loses via bullshit like Harper returning and joining Bryan. Which will set up the Mania Match

People are being super cynical right now but I wanna believe WWE has a braincell left.

it is the same company that had Reign main event 4(and it was going to be 5) Main Events in a row.

The company that had Strowman bitched out over and over.

The company that added Charlotte to the dream match of Ronda vs Becky.

The company that f***ed over Dean at every moment he seemed to be in a upswing.

The company that chose Jinder Mahal over Nakamura,and related, managed to waste away all goodwill and goodbooking SD! Live has, killed Talking Smack,etc,etc.

I wont bet on it(And hey, I didnt,go bet over in the wager thread people! )