Kofi Kingston is One of the Greatest Mid-Carders in Modern WWE

I consider wrestler Kofi Kingston as one of the greatest mid-carters of all time for numerous reasons: his accolades, what he has done in the African-American community, and his versatility. Read a little about him and his career in WWE and why I consider him one of the top in WWE. (Credit: www.iam.ac.in)

If there was one wrestler that I had followed over the years, it would have to be Kofi Kingston. I remember when he was on WWE ECW and transitioned to the Main Roster and was consistently performing at a high level. Whether it was his Intercontinental and United States Championship matches with Dolph Ziggler or the Miz, or his numerous tag team reigns with the stable New Day, or even his WWE Championship reign when he defeated The New Daniel Bryan, it would be fair to say that Kingston has been one of the greatest mid-carders in the modern WWE. I can tell you a few reasons why that is the case.

We have to look at the versatility of Kofi Kingston over the years. I consider him the greatest because of the way WWE has been able to use him. Whether it be him performing remarkable stunts in numerous Royal Rumbles, elevating the tag team division and bringing out new talent, or even having mainstream matches like his feud with Randy Orton in late 2009 or his championship run in the late 2010s, Kofi has been able to fit in anywhere management puts him. He has been able to turn chicken crap into chicken salad and elevate the audience on a regular basis. He can fit basically any storyline and make it look fantastic.

Kofi Kingston hits his finisher “Trouble in Paradise” on The MIz in a 2012 episode of Monday Night Raw (credit: YouTube)

This may have very little to do with why I consider him the greatest, but take a look at his moveset. It is very unique. If we look at WWE today, a lot of the top wrestlers have the same moves that other wrestlers have used over the course of the company’s history. But Kingston’s finishing maneuver, “Trouble in Paradise” , a spinning side head kick, has never been really used by anyone else. Tell me another Superstar who uses Kofi’s signature “SOS” move. Numerous crossbodies and lateral presses are what make Kofi a great aerialist and no matter what he does, he can be a bruiser, brawler, aerialist, or submission specialist and can perform great in the ring with anyone. I have to admit, I love the “Boom/New Day Drop”. It was one of my favorites to watch when I was a kid.

Kingstons’s credentials say it all. But not many African American wrestlers have had the success that he has had. It makes an impact, especially to a black man myself to see talent like him succeed. New Day has also made an impact globally with their merchandise sold and also their signature catchphrases are still used to this day. His accolades are endless. He is world champion, a four time Intercontinental champion, three time United States Champion and has held both the Raw and Smackdown Tag Team titles seven times each. His world champion reign made him the 13th Grand Slam Champion which ranks 20th overall. You have to give this man his flowers and even though the Miz, Dolph Ziggler, and even MVP are awesome mid-carders, you can’t tell me that Kingston should be left off of this list. He is an all-time great and will be in the Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame.