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After almost two decades with the WWE, Kofi Kingston leaves a lasting legacy that fans won’t forget.
The WWE roster clean-up continues, and one of the more shocking pieces of news was the departure of Kofi Kingston and fellow New Day member Xavier Woods. While the decision wasn’t received well by fans and colleagues, it was reportedly mutual between both sides.
For the first time in nearly two decades, Kingston is no longer with WWE. In that time, he won 22 championships including one world title and delivered countless moments that will continue to resonate with fans for years to come.
Royal Rumble saves
Some of the best moments of Kingston’s career came during Royal Rumble matches. Year after year, he pulled off creative and seemingly impossible ways to avoid elimination. The trend began in 2012 with his iconic handstand spot, and from there, it became a yearly moment fans looked forward to.
A midcard mainstay
For much of his career, Kingston was a mainstay in WWE’s midcard. Multiple reigns as Intercontinental and United States Champion made him a consistent presence in the division. Mini rivalries with Dolph Ziggler, Drew McIntyre, and John Morrison were must-see TV and showcased his reliability as a performer.
New Day’s wars with The Usos
One of the biggest highlights of The New Day’s run was their rivalry with The Usos. These two teams carried the tag team division for a large part of the 2010s. From promos to in-ring performances, both sides consistently delivered, making it one of the defining rivalries of that era.
Feud with Randy Orton
One of the rivalries that helped put Kingston on the map was his feud with Randy Orton in 2009. While he ultimately came up short, the storyline elevated him as a legitimate singles competitor.
He was regularly featured in major events and weekly programming, solidifying his place as one of the most reliable stars of his generation.
KofiMania!
Eleven long years. After being a decorated tag team specialist alongside names like R-Truth, Evan Bourne, CM Punk, and of course, The New Day, Kofi Kingston’s singles career was largely stuck in the midcard.
But in 2019, he finally broke through, capturing the WWE Championship against Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania. This was undoubtedly one of the best underdog stories that WWE has ever produced.
Images courtesy of WWE.