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Kofi Kingston appeared on the Bleav in Pro Wrestling Podcast this week. We thanks Rick Ucchino and the Bleav in Pro Wrestling Podcast for sending along these highlights:
Kofi on working with the Usos and fan complaints about them working together so much:
“It's funny that you say that man, because we laugh about that all the time. I’ve never heard so many people complain about, like, a guaranteed great match. You know what I'm saying? Like, you go out there and complain, ‘Oh I gotta watch another great match!’” Kofi said in jest. “Every match that we've had with the Usos, we pride ourselves on making it better than the last. I always say this, and I don't mean to compare myself to like the Dudley’s and the Hardy’s, and Edge and Christian, but with their ladder matches, that was the standard that they set. To outdo themselves every single time.”
“It's so easy working with the Usos man. Like, we have the same mentality. No matter where we are on the card, we seek to steal the show, as you saw on Day 1. You’re gonna put us first? OK. Well, you know, we're gonna try to set the table a little high. You're gonna need a booster seat to sit up there and eat.”
“You're blessed when you have an opponent who you jive with, you know? We jive with the Usos so well, on so many different levels. From conceptualizing how to construct the match, all the way into the finish. Everybody has unique ways of just getting in there and then our in-ring chemistry is just chef’s kiss. You know what I'm saying? Top notch.”
“I don't really like watching many of my matches back, but with the Usos, I always go out of my way to watch it back because we just take a lot of pride in being able to put together matches that are compelling, time and time again. Knock on wood, maybe the next one will be a stinker. I don't know. I said that, maybe the next one will be a stinker. Then people will have some grounds to complain.”
Kofi on Big E’s WWE Title run and E’s tough judgement on himself (referencing his SI interview):
“I thought he did great. We’re always the biggest critics of ourselves,” Kofi said. “We've always taken pride in holding ourselves to the highest standard. Like, nobody is gonna hold us to a higher standard than we hold ourselves to. We expect nothing but the best of ourselves. Myself, Woods and E, that's just the way that we roll, you know? So, I wasn't surprised to see some of the things that he had said about the way things went. He gave what he felt was an honest look at his time, but it makes him that much hungrier.”
“There's so many things that come with being a champion. There’s so many labels and you take a lot of pride, at least you should, at being able to be the face of the company and put the whole company on your back. You always go out there and you want to have a great match, but to do it with the championship, you realize that this is the stamp of approval from everybody in the industry, right? You were put in this role. You are trusted to be the face of the company. So, again, it's no surprise that he was that hard on himself.”
“For me in particular, I'm real proud of him and the way that he carried himself as champion. He was able to kind of switch things up, but also not change and stay true to himself. Which a lot of people can't say,” Kofi said. “He's always had the support of the people. You know what I'm saying? He's always able to go out there and entertain and do things that, as a man that large, he should not physically be able to do. But he goes out there and showcases his athleticism. Every single time he touches the mic, he's able to move people and make people feel. It’s a lot harder to do, than you would think. There's a lot of people who can't, the way E can. So, yeah, I'm super proud of him for being able to fulfill that role and for him to be able to put the company on his back and be the face of the company. And to get that shot and to chase that shot. That's what he deserved.”
Kofi on the forbidden door opening and Mickie James in the Rumble:
“I was really surprised at that, because we as a company, have not really opened that forbidden door, like ever. There are other companies that have explored that, but it's really exciting, man. And for Mickie to be the one to kind of like bust through the door, it’s so Mickie. It's so Mickie, you know what I mean? I love it. Mickie, to me, has been like an older sister throughout my entire career. So, I'm really excited just to see her, you know, just so we can B.S. a little bit and go back and forth.”
“I was happy when I heard that. And I think a lot of the fans were happy too, because now the intrigue is there, right? Like what other doors are we gonna open? Who else is gonna be there? Like now you really have your eyes on the Royal Rumble. I think that we've done a great job in bringing people back from the past who have been with WWE, and that's one of the main things of the Royal Rumble. One of the main levels of intrigue and excitement that the Royal Rumble brings. And it just gives a whole new level, man, because you really have no idea. It can literally be anybody, from anywhere, coming in at any time. I'm really excited about the rumble man.”
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