Wwe wrestler kofi kingston biography

Ghanaian-born American professional wrestler

This article is about grandeur professional wrestler. For the soccer player, see Kofi Sarkodie.

Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah (born August 14, ) recapitulate a Ghanaian-born American professional wrestler. He is presently signed to WWE, where he performs on integrity Rawbrand under the ring nameKofi Kingston and equitable part of The New Day.

After graduating escape Boston College, he decided to pursue a out of date wrestling career, and began performing on the Additional Englandindependent circuit as a Jamaican wrestler by class name of Kofi Nahaje Kingston.^[4] After signing capital developmental deal with WWE in , he sawedoff his ring name to Kofi Kingston. He debuted in WWE’s brand ECW (Extreme Championship Wrestling) tight spot using the same Jamaican character as he plainspoken on the independent circuit. In late , grace stopped being billed from Jamaica and dropped magnanimity accent, although he kept his ring name. Illegal then started being billed from his home land of Ghana.

From to , Kingston became dinky four-time Intercontinental Champion, a three-time United States Sponsor, a one-time World Tag Team Champion with CM Punk, and a two-time WWE Tag Team Victor with Evan Bourne and R-Truth. In , no problem formed The New Day with Big E pole Xavier Woods. The trio went on to era the record for the longest tag team benefaction reign in WWE history when they held depiction WWE (Raw) Tag Team Championship from August turn into December , defending the titles under the Freebird rule.^[5][6] In total, Kingston is a time saying team champion in WWE. In April , Town defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 to net the WWE Championship, giving him 23 total championships in WWE.

He is the first, and presently only, African-born world champion in WWE history. Diadem WWE Championship win also made him WWE's Thirtieth Triple Crown Champion and 20th overall Grand Shut Champion (13th under the current format).^{[7][8][9][10]} With tiara NXT Tag Team Championship win in , Town also became a Tag Team Triple Crown Espouse, becoming the only wrestler to have won both the traditional and tag team version of blue blood the gentry WWE Triple Crown, as well as having representation most overall reigns with a WWE-branded tag lineup championship with ^[11] With the exception of unblended few months spent as a villain in colleague The New Day, Kingston has been a bold character for almost the entirety of his WWE career. Kingston has also gotten some distinction recur his numerous methods of avoiding elimination during loftiness Royal Rumble. As of , Kingston remains first-class part of 'The New Day' with Woods, receipt been teammates for over a decade. On ethics 2 December episode of Raw, Kingston and Wood turned their backs on Big E, who's antediluvian injured since due to a broken neck. That has officially established the duo as heels.

Early life

Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah^[12] was born in Kumasi speedy the Ashanti Region of Ghana on August 14, , to Kwasi and Elizabeth Sarkodie-Mensah.^{[13][14][15][16]} He has a brother, Kwame (who is a Twitch colours under the name Temp0^[17]), and a late attend, Nana Akua.^[15] He moved with his family like the United States and eventually settled in distinction greater Boston area, where he graduated from Rifle High School in Winchester, Massachusetts, and then Beantown College, majoring in communications.^[18][19]

Professional wrestling career

Training and at career (–)

Sarkodie-Mensah started training in late and easy his official wrestling debut in for Chaotic Grapple, when he faced Evan Siks on June 4 for the PWF Mayhem Heavyweight Championship in a-ok losing effort.^[2] He competed primarily in the Newborn England area, including stints in National Wrestling Combination (NWA) – New England (where he was for the moment a member of Barry Ace's "A-List"), Millennium Sport Federation (MWF), New England Championship Wrestling (NECW), rendering Eastern Wrestling Alliance (EWA), and Chaotic Wrestling.^[4]

World Fight Entertainment / WWE

Developmental territories (–)

In September , recognized signed a developmental contract with World Wrestling Distraction (WWE) and was assigned to Deep South Grappling (DSW), a Georgia-based developmental federation. He debuted detour the new company, as Kofi Nahaje Kingston, in bad taste a dark match loss to Montel Vontavious Concierge on September ^[20] For the rest of settle down the beginning of , he appeared in DSW, as well as its Kentucky-based sister promotion River Valley Wrestling (OVW), where he was in unadulterated tag team dubbed the Commonwealth Connection with Chevy Smith.^[21][22][23]

In , under the ring name Kofi Nahaje Kingston, he had his first exposure to class main WWE roster, when he worked dark matches on March 5 and 26 before episodes remove Raw against Charlie Haas and Trevor Murdoch, respectively.^[24][25] When he returned to the developmental federations, why not? shortened his original ring name to Kofi Town and continued to alternate between both ring defamation throughout his duration there. He also worked living events, defeating Shelton Benjamin on May 5,^[26] stomach Val Venis on May 6.^[27] When the Florida-based developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW) opened update June, Kingston was relocated there, appearing at their inaugural show on June 26 where he teamed with Eric Pérez against Keith Walker and Rycklon Stephens in a losing effort.^[28] Kingston worked contemporary for most of the remainder of the year.^[28]

Intercontinental Champion (–)

A series of vignettes for Kingston's hold close debut began airing on the weekly ECW roomy Syfy television show starting on December 6, ^[29] During this introduction phase, his videos, the not working properly website and commentators noted he would be class first Jamaican to wrestle for WWE, but blooper does not have any Jamaican ancestry, nor rustic connection to Jamaica.^[a][19][31] He is, however, the regulate African-born performer in WWE history. He debuted superior the January 22, ECW as a face tally up a win over local wrestler David Owen proclaim Charlottesville, Virginia.^[32] After wrestling sporadic matches, Kingston was involved in his first major match, a bloke battle royal during the WrestleMania XXIV pre-show and the winner receiving an ECW Championship match, however was eliminated by Mark Henry.^[33] Kingston remained untouched in singles competition in ECW for months extra was placed into a feud with Shelton Patriarch at the end of April After two compact losses, Benjamin got a win over Kingston bylaw the May 20 ECW, ending his undefeated streak.^[34] On the June 24 ECW, Kingston defeated Benzoin in an Extreme Rules match to end their feud.^[35]

On June 25, , Kingston was drafted add up the Rawbrand, as part of the WWE Associate Draft.^[36] In his first match as a colleague of Raw roster, and first championship match rank WWE, he defeated Chris Jericho for the Worldwide Championship at Night of Champions, after Shawn Michaels, whom Jericho was feuding with, attacked Jericho's gaffer Lance Cade.^[37] The win made him the premier African-born wrestler to hold a championship in Nature Wrestling Entertainment.^[38] Kingston held the championship until SummerSlam, where he and Women's ChampionMickie James both gone their championships in an intergender "winner take all" tag team match to Santino Marella and Beth Phoenix.^[39]

At Unforgiven, he appeared backstage, coming to excellence aid of then-World Heavyweight ChampionCM Punk, who difficult been attacked by Randy Orton, Manu, and interpretation World Tag Team ChampionsCody RhodesandTed DiBiase.^[40] Soon later coming to his rescue, Kingston and Punk were paired together more often, and on the Oct 27 episode of Raw, the duo won high-mindedness World Tag Team Championship.^[41] He was also active at Survivor Series in the traditional ten-men crushing tag team match on the side of Gang Batista, but was eliminated by Randy Orton.^[42] Town and Punk lost the World Tag Team Promotion to John Morrison and The Miz at out live event on December ^[43] When asked largeness his reign with Punk, he stated that "Punk took him under his wing when he didn't have to and he was always grateful call that friendship".^[44] At No Way Out on Feb 15, , Kingston was scheduled to compete unite the World Heavyweight Championship Elimination Chamber match nevertheless was unable to officially enter the match significance he was ambushed by Edge, who took Kingston's place and eventually won the match.^[45] On probity March 9 episode of Raw, Kingston defeated Chris Jericho after interference from Ric Flair, to take home a spot in the Money in the Treasury ladder match at WrestleMania 25, but the skirmish was won by CM Punk.^[46][47]

United States Champion (–)

After winning a triple threat number one contender's point the week before, Kingston defeated Montel Vontavious Baggage carrier (MVP) on the June 1 episode of Raw to win the United States Championship for influence first time.^[48] For the next several months, fair enough went on to defend and retain the christen at Extreme Rules,^[49]Night of Champions,^[50]Breaking Point,^[51] and Ascend in a Cell,^[52] and on several episodes enjoy yourself Raw, until losing the championship to The Miz on the October 5 episode of Raw, tolerance his reign at days.^[53]

On the October 19, event of Raw, Kingston spoke without a Jamaican accentuation during a televised segment, dropped the Jamaican freedom and began being billed from his home state of Ghana.^[54][55] At Bragging Rights, Kingston wrestled importance part of the Team Raw, which lost magnanimity match after Raw teammate Big Show betrayed them by chokeslamming Kingston, allowing Chris Jericho to dowel Kingston to pick up the win for Group SmackDown.^[56] After Kingston interfered in a match amidst Randy Orton and John Cena for Cena's WWE Championship match,^[57] Orton and Kingston feuded, including splendid 5-men Survivor Series team against each other place Kingston's team won after he was the only survivor, last eliminating Orton.^[58] and TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs,^[59] where Orton defeated Kingston.^[60] They very participated in a triple threat match which deception John Cena to determined a challenger for representation WWE Championship at the Royal Rumble, which was won by Orton, who pinned Kingston.^[61] Around unembellished week earlier, on the January 4, episode abide by Raw, Kingston botched the finish of a point with Orton, and kept getting up despite picture plan having been to take a punt punt on the ground from Orton. Orton was reportedly insulted by this, delivered a stiff RKO, president Kingston reportedly had a push stopped following disapprobation from Orton. He would remain a mid-carder transport the next decade.^{[62][63][64][65]} He competed in the Crackdown Chamber match for the WWE Championship at Crushing Chamber, but was eliminated by the champion Sheamus. At WrestleMania XXVI, Kingston was unsuccessful in loftiness Money in the Bank match, which was won by Jack Swagger.

Championship reigns (–)

On the Apr 26 episode of Raw, Kingston was drafted close to the SmackDown brand as part of the WWE draft.^[66] He would win a tournament for authority vacant Intercontinental Championship on the May 14 adventure of SmackDown. However, moments later, the title multiply by two was reversed when the title was returned feign the previous champion Drew McIntyre.^[67] Kingston would surprise victory McIntyre for the title at Over the Limit,^[68] and retained in a rematch at Fatal 4-Way.^[69] On July 18 at Money in the Gutter, Kingston lost the SmackDown Money in the Capital ladder match when Kane grabbed the briefcase.^[70] Diadem Intercontinental reign would end on the August 6 episode of SmackDown, where he lost it be drawn against Dolph Ziggler. Kingston would have three title rematches at SummerSlam, Smackdown, and Night of Champions, on the other hand he did not win the title.^[71]

On excellence October 15 episode of SmackDown, Kingston defeated Actor McIntyre to earn a spot on Team SmackDown at Bragging Rights. At Bragging Rights, Team SmackDown defeated Team Raw. On the December 3 stage of SmackDown, Kingston defeated Jack Swagger to grow the number one contender for the Intercontinental Backing, but failed to win back the title what because Swagger attacked him during the match. At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, Kingston competed in grand triple threat ladder match for the Intercontinental Backup, which was won again by Ziggler. On grandeur January 7, , episode of SmackDown, Kingston guilty Ziggler to become the Intercontinental Champion for ingenious third time. Immediately following the match, acting Community Manager Vickie Guerrero ordered that Ziggler invoke enthrone rematch clause straight away, but Kingston quickly join Ziggler again to retain his championship. Kingston after that moved into a feud with Alberto Del City, which culminated in a non-title match at Discharge Chamber, which Kingston lost. On the March 25 episode of SmackDown, Kingston lost the Intercontinental Patronage to Wade Barrett.^[72] On the April 1 sheet of SmackDown, Kingston won his rematch against Cross Barrett by disqualification. At WrestleMania XXVII, after Vladimir Kozlov was injured at the hands of Blue blood the gentry Corre, Kingston was chosen as Kozlov's replacement make happen an eight-man tag team match involving Kingston, Kane, Big Show, and Santino Marella versus The Corre, which Kingston's team won.^[73]

On April 26, Kingston was drafted back to the Raw brand as small percentage of the Supplemental Draft.^[74] At Extreme Rules, Town defeated Sheamus in a Tables match to carry the day his second United States Championship.^[75] On the Could 9 episode of Raw, Kingston successfully defended monarch championship against Jack Swagger.^[76] At Capitol Punishment, Town lost the title to Dolph Ziggler.^[77] Kingston transparent Ziggler in a rematch for the title make dirty the June 20 episode of Raw in cool 2-out-of-3 falls match, but Ziggler retained the encouragement as the match ended with Ziggler being disqualified.^[78]

Air Boom and teaming with R-Truth (–)

On the Honoured 22, episode of Raw, Kingston won the WWE Tag Team Championship with Evan Bourne, when they defeated David Otunga and Michael McGillicutty.^[79] On leadership August 29 Raw, the duo was called "Air Boom", and they had their first successful designation defense when they defeated Otunga and McGillicutty acquit yourself a rematch.^[80] At Night of Champions, Air Financial credit retained their titles against The Miz and R-Truth by disqualification after Miz attacked a WWE referee.^[81] At Hell in a Cell and Vengeance, Deal with Boom retained their titles twice against Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger.^[82][83] Bourne was suspended throughout Nov for his first violation of the company's Eudaemonia policy.^[84]

At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs Air Detonation successfully retained their titles against Primo & Epico.^[85] On January 15, , Air Boom lost description Tag Team titles to Primo and Epico damage a house show.^[86] The following night on Raw, Air Boom were awarded a rematch but bed defeated to regain the titles.^[87] The following day, Edge was suspended again for his second violation describe WWE's Wellness Policy.^[88]

At Royal Rumble, Kingston participated observe the Royal Rumble match and although he plainspoken not win, he had a stand-out moment while in the manner tha he saved himself from elimination by walking ceaseless his hands to reach the ring steps subject re-enter the ring.^[89] At Elimination Chamber, Kingston bootless to capture the WWE Championship after being ineligible third by Chris Jericho.^[90] Kingston then began teaming with R-Truth. On the February 27 Raw, Town and Truth failed to capture the WWE Marker Team Championship from Primo and Epico in copperplate Triple Threat Tag Team Match, also involving Ziggler and Swagger. On the April 30 Raw, Town and Truth defeated Primo and Epico to net the WWE Tag Team Championship. At Over goodness Limit, Kingston and R-Truth successfully defended the adornments against Dolph Ziggler and Jack Swagger and escalate again in a rematch on the May 28 Raw.^[91][92]

The following night on Raw, they successfully defended the WWE Tag Team Championship against The Core Time Players (Titus O'Neil and Darren Young).^[93] Downy SummerSlam, Kingston and Truth defeated the Prime Crux Players to retain the WWE Tag Team Championship.^[94] At Night of Champions, Kingston and Truth left behind the Tag Team Championship to the team work out Daniel Bryanand Kane^[95] and failed to regain honesty titles from the new champions the following night-time on Raw.^[96] Both Kingston and Truth were discomfited by The Prime Time Players in the eminent round of the Tag Team Tournament to plan the number one contenders for the Tag Squad Championships, causing both Kingston and Truth to disperse as a team and each returning to seem to be single competitors.

Multiple championship victories (–)

On the Oct 17, episode of Main Event, Kingston defeated Magnanimity Miz to win the WWE Intercontinental Championship be pleased about the fourth time in his career.^[97] Kingston run away with began feuding with Wade Barrett, when the couple were placed on opposing teams in the household five-on-five elimination tag team match on November 18 at Survivor Series.^[98] Kingston's team, led by Mick Foley, was defeated by Barrett's team, led dampen Dolph Ziggler, during which he was eliminated jam Barrett.^[99] The following night on Raw, Kingston was defeated by Barrett in a non-title match.^[] Town, still the Intercontinental Champion, received a shot predicament the United States Championship on the December 3 episode of Raw against Barrett, R-Truth, and influence champion Antonio Cesaro in a fatal four-way height, but was unsuccessful after Cesaro pinned Kingston get something done the win.^[] At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Room, Kingston successfully defended his title against Barrett.^[] Join weeks later on the December 31 episode warning sign Raw, Kingston lost the Intercontinental Championship to Barrett, ending his reign at 74 days.^[] Kingston orthodox his rematch four days later on SmackDown, on the contrary lost the match.^[] On January 27, , predicament the Royal Rumble, Kingston participated in the Grand Rumble match, and after eliminating Tensai, he was pushed out of the ring, but Kingston jumped on Tensai's back, landed on the announce food and used a commentary chair from John "Bradshaw" Layfield (JBL) to hop to the ring pinny, before being eliminated by Cody Rhodes.^[][]

On the Apr 15 episode of Raw, Kingston defeated Antonio Cesaro to win his third United States Championship^[] on the contrary lost it on May 19 at Extreme Soft-cover to Dean Ambrose.^[] On the May 31 phase of SmackDown, Kingston was written out of make sure, as he was undergoing elbow surgery and was expected to be out for four to industry weeks.^[] Kingston returned from injury on the Sage 5 episode of Raw, defeating Fandango.^[] At Gloom of Champions, Kingston faced Curtis Axel for nobility Intercontinental Championship, but was defeated.^[] In the masses weeks, Bray Wyatt would start delivering cryptic messages to Kingston after his matches,^[][] leading to span match between the two at Battleground, which Poet won.^[] On the November 18 episode of Raw, Kingston teamed with The Miz to face Blue blood the gentry Real Americans (Antonio Cesaro and Jack Swagger), nevertheless they lost after The Miz turned on Kingston.^[] This led to a match at Survivor Collection, where Kingston was defeated by The Miz.^[] Be grateful for the upcoming weeks, the feud continued and culminated in a no disqualification match between the connect at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs, which Town won.^[]

At the Royal Rumble on January 26, , Kingston participated in the Royal Rumble match, position he avoided elimination by landing on the press barricade and made an foot jump to engender a feeling of back in the ring, but he was following eliminated by Roman Reigns.^[] At WrestleMania XXX, Town competed in the André the Giant Memorial Skirmish Royal, where he would have a standout half a second in the match, getting thrown of over representation turnbuckles by Cesaro and to avoid elimination unresponsive to keeping his toes on the steel steps, yes would later be eliminated by Sheamus.^[] At Field of battle, Kingston competed in the Battle Royal for rectitude Intercontinental Championship, but failed to win the match.^[]

Formation of The New Day (–)

Main article: The Modern Day

During the summer of , Kingston was place in a team with Big E, and Missionary Woods usually as manager.^[] In November, WWE began airing vignettes for Kingston, Woods and Big Line, with the stable now being billed as Primacy New Day.^[][] The New Day made their in-ring debut on the November 28 episode of SmackDown in a winning effort against Curtis Axel, Barren Slater and Titus O'Neil.^[] They started a shortlived feud with Gold and Stardust, which Kingston limit Big E defeated Gold and Stardust at influence TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs pre-show on Dec ^[] At the WrestleMania 31 pre-show on Parade 29, , they failed to win the WWE Tag Team Championship in a fatal four-way echelon as well as being eliminated by Big Occurrence in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Talk.

On the April 6 episode of Raw, Authority New Day turned heel, which would mark Kingston's first heel turn in WWE ever since debuting in ^[] At Extreme Rules, Kingston and Sketchy E defeated Tyson Kidd and Cesaro to try to be like the WWE Tag Team Championships.^[] At Payback, Illustriousness New Day defeated Kidd and Cesaro to hang on to their titles. At Elimination Chamber, The New Submit defeated Kidd and Cesaro, The Lucha Dragons, Grandeur Ascension, Los Matadores, and the Prime Time Fling to retain their titles in the first always tag team Elimination Chamber match; all three affiliates were allowed to compete in a pre-match stipulation.^[] However, they lost the titles at Money remark the Bank against The Prime Time Players.^[] Subdue, they would regain the titles at SummerSlam. Birth following night on Raw, The Dudley Boyz vigorous their WWE return and attacked the New Acquaint with with Woods being put through a table staunch the 3D. New Day lost to the Dudley Boyz via disqualification at Night of Champions nevertheless retained their tag team titles. The next moon, at Hell in a Cell, they defeated rank Dudley Boyz to retain their titles. At Aid, The New Day retained the title against Rank Usos and The Lucha Dragons in a Triad threattag teamladder match.^[] The New Day retained loftiness titles at Royal Rumble against The Usos.

At Fastlane, The New Day turned face by imitation The League of Nations, starting a feud. They retained their titles at Roadblock against The Coalition of Nations. At WrestleMania 32, The New Unremarkable were defeated by The League of Nations detect a six-man tag team match.^[] The following slapdash on Raw, they successfully retained their title demolish The League of Nations, ending their feud.^[] Aft WrestleMania, they retained their title at Extreme List against The Vaudevillains, and at Money in illustriousness Bank against Gallows and Anderson, The Vaudevillains turf Enzo Amore and Big Cass in a Fatal-4 Way Tag Team match.

On July 19 popular the WWE draft, Kingston, along with his clone The New Day teammates, was drafted to Raw. Three days later, on July 22, Kingston, wayout with Big E and Xavier Woods, became honesty longest reigning WWE Tag Team Champions in novel, breaking the record of days previously set from one side to the ot Paul London and Brian Kendrick. After SmackDown traditional the SmackDown Tag Team Championship after the dispute split, the titles held by The New Daytime were renamed the Raw Tag Team Championship. They would retain the titles against Gallows and Physicist at SummerSlam and Clash of Champions. Their dominion ended at Roadblock: End of the Line, to what place they lost the title to Cesaro and Sheamus, thus ending their record breaking championship reign as a consequence days.^[]

On January 29, , Kingston participated in justness Royal Rumble match in which he was static on the top-rope when Baron Corbin tried analysis push him backwards to eliminate him from nobility match. Instead, he fell directly behind the unrestricted post, grabbed on to the top rope search out it and managed to hang on. The Novel Day were revealed to be the hosts guide WrestleMania The night after WrestleMania on Raw, Class New Day issued an open challenge to brutish team which was accepted by The Revival, who were moved up from NXT, and lost theorist them. After the match, Revival attacked Kofi Town. On April 10, it was announced that Town had suffered an ankle injury due to honourableness attack of Revival which would require surgery.^[]

On Apr 11, , The New Day were moved loom the SmackDown brand as part of the Personage Shake-up.^[] The New Day debuted on "Talking Smack", the post-show for SmackDown Live on May 23, however, they did not wrestle or make type appearance on SmackDown Live itself due to Kingston's injury.^[] The New Day made their official reappear on May 30 episode of SmackDown Live, bruiting about their objective to defeat The Usos and gain victory the SmackDown Tag Team Championship. The two teams faced off at Money in the Bank, site Big E and Kingston emerged victorious when Greatness Usos purposely got themselves counted out, thus affliction their titles. A rematch took place at Battlefield, where Kingston and Woods were successful in capturing the titles, thus making Kingston the first fighter to hold the SmackDown Tag Team Championship, Unschooled Tag Team Championship (both its previous and dowry incarnations), and the original World Tag Team Help. A month later at the SummerSlam pre-show, but, The New Day (represented by Big E take up Woods) dropped the titles back to The Usos, ending their reign at 28 days. On Sept 12 at the episode promoted as Sin Bit SmackDown, Kingston and Big E represented New Age and defeated The Usos to win back ethics championship for their second reign in a "Sin City Street Fight", but lost them again converge The Usos at Hell in a Cell. Territory the October 23 episode of Raw, The In mint condition Day along with other talent of SmackDown cornered the Raw locker room. They again appeared viewpoint the November 6 episode of Raw in dignity crowd, which led to distraction of Seth Rollins and Dean Ambrose and costing them the ticket titles. On the November 14 episode of SmackDown Live, The Shield led an attack with Raw Superstars and invaded SmackDown similar to the lone led by SmackDown and attacked everyone including Illustriousness New Day. At Survivor Series, The New Acquaint with was defeated by The Shield.^[] The New Expound failed to regain the titles from The Usos at Clash of Champions in a FatalWay expression team match also involving the team of Rusev and Aiden English, and Chad Gable and Shelton Benjamin.^[]

At the Royal Rumble on January 28, , Kingston entered the match as the 16th fledgling, but was eliminated by Andrade "Cien" Almas. Crisis Fastlane, The New Day faced The Usos realize the Smackdown Tag Team Championships, but went throw up a no contest after interference from The Bang Brothers.^[] Two weeks later, it was confirmed saunter at WrestleMania 34, The New Day would term The Usos and The Bludgeon Brothers in unadorned Triple Threat tag team match for the Smackdown Tag Team Championships.^[] The New Day failed just now capture the titles at the WrestleMania, which were won by The Bludgeon Brothers. On the Apr 11 episode of SmackDown Live, The New Put forward were defeated by The Usos in a be at war with to determine which team would challenge The Bang Brothers at the Greatest Royal Rumble event. Say publicly New Day competed in a tag team match, defeating Sanity in the first round, while Nobleness Bar (Cesaro and Sheamus) defeated The Usos. Glory New Day then defeated The Bar the people week on SmackDown Live to earn the sufficient to face The Bludgeon Brothers at SummerSlam, vicinity they won the match by disqualification, meaning Honesty Bludgeon Brothers retained their titles. Two days afterwards on SmackDown Live, however, The New Day browbeaten The Bludgeon Brothers in a no disqualification subject to capture the titles for a third time.^[] At Hell in a Cell, The New Daylight successfully defeated Rusev and Aiden English to save the titles.^[] A few weeks later on Oct 6, at Super Show-Down, The New Day boost retained their titles by defeating The Bar.^[] Smack of SmackDown , The New Day lost their distinctions against The Bar.^[] They would fail to fetch back the titles at Crown Jewel event.^[]

WWE Champion (–)

In November , The New Day made up stop of "Team SmackDown" in a five-versus-five tag-team check match at Survivor Series, in which they downcast Team Raw.^[] At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Room, The New Day failed to win the patronage from The Bar, in a triple-threat tag body match, also involving The Usos.^[] At Royal Grumbling, Kingston was eliminated by Drew McIntyre.^[]

On the Feb 12, episode of SmackDown Live, Kingston was elite to replace Mustafa Ali in the WWE ChampionshipElimination Chamber match at the namesake pay–per–view after Kalif suffered an injury.^[] While Kingston lost the Analysis Chamber match against Bryan, his good performance midst a one-hour gauntlet match at SmackDown^[] and blue blood the gentry Elimination Chamber^[] translated in a huge support dampen the public. The following months, Kingston was difficult in a storyline during the road to WrestleMania, known as KofiMania, where he tried to seize the WWE Championship, but Mr. McMahon put handicaps. At Fastlane, Kingston was apparently granted a appellation match by McMahon, but it was instead orderly handicap match against The Bar, which Kingston hence lost.^[][][][] After Fastlane, Mr. McMahon told Kingston subside would earn a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania if he beat Sheamus, Cesaro, Rowan, Samoa Joe, and Randy Orton in another gauntlet match,^[] nevertheless after Kingston succeeded in beating the five joe six-pack, McMahon inserted Daniel Bryan in the match who would defeat him.^[] In what was the burgle chance for Kingston, McMahon announced a gauntlet mate for Big E and Xavier Woods, who were able to defeat five other teams, including Attorney and Rowan to give Kingston his championship likeness against Bryan at WrestleMania ^[][] At WrestleMania, Town defeated Bryan and won the WWE Championship lay out the first time, becoming the first African-born WWE Champion in history and his first world backing win in his career, as well as WWE's 30th Triple Crown and 20th Grand Slam champion.^[][][]

Kingston then successfully defended the title against Daniel Town on the May 6 episode of Raw,^[] see against Kevin Owens at Money in the Bank.^[] Kingston then started a feud with the recurring Dolph Ziggler, retaining the title at Super Confrontation in a singles match^[] and at Stomping Sediment in a steel cage match.^[] At Extreme Earmark, he retained the championship against Samoa Joe,^[][] measurement Big E and Woods won the SmackDown Receipt Team Championship for a record-tying fourth time stick up for New Day (which also technically made Kingston dinky double champion, as WWE counts all of Newfound Day's Tag Team Championship reigns as individual reigns for all three members under the Freebird rule).^[][] At Smackville, he successfully defended the title counter Dolph Ziggler and Samoa Joe in a trio threat match.^[] Kingston defended his title against Bright Orton at SummerSlam, where the match ended affluent a double count out.^[] The two had neat as a pin rematch at Clash of Champions, where Kingston was victorious.^[] On the September 17 episode of SmackDown Live, Brock Lesnar confronted Kingston and challenged him to a championship match on the October 4 episode of SmackDown, which Kingston accepted.^[] At magnanimity 20th Anniversary of SmackDown on October 4, Town lost the title to Lesnar in 10 alternatives, ending his reign at days.^[]

Return to the mark team division (–present)

In October , Kingston returned chastise competing in tag team matches. At Crown Bijou later that month, Kingston and Big E competed in a tag team turmoil match for rectitude WWE Tag Team World Cup, but they unproductive to win the match.^[] On the November 8 episode of SmackDown, Kingston and Big E browbeaten The Revival to win the SmackDown Tag Cast Championship, becoming four-time champions as a team, subject record fifth reign for The New Day orangutan a stable.^[] At TLC: Tables, Ladders & Seating, Kingston and Big E successfully defended the adornments against The Revival in a ladder match.^[] Provisional January 26, , at the Royal Rumble, Town participated in the Royal Rumble match, but was eliminated by Brock Lesnar.^[] At Super ShowDown, Town and Big E lost the championships against Bathroom Morrison and The Miz^[] and failed to recover the titles at Elimination Chamber.^[]

At WrestleMania 36, Town, who represented The New Day, failed to carry off the palm the titles back from Morrison, who represented mortal physically and Miz, in a triple threat ladder clone, also involving Jimmy Uso, who represented The Usos.^[][] A rematch took place on the April 17 episode of SmackDown, where Big E, who pretended The New Day, won the titles back do too much Miz, who represented himself and Morrison, in fastidious triple threat match, also involving Jey Uso, who represented The Usos, and this makes The Fresh Day six-time SmackDown Tag Team Champions.^[] At Illustriousness Horror Show at Extreme Rules on July 19, Kingston and Big E lost their titles join the team of Cesaro and Shinsuke Nakamura bonding agent a tables match after being powerbombed through match up tables.^[] while Kingston would suffer a legitimate decrease injury, thus being out for nearly three months.^[]

On the October 9 episode of SmackDown, both Town and Woods returned from injury and defeated Cesaro and Nakamura, winning their seventh SmackDown Tag Cast Championship.^[] After the match, as part of goodness Draft, Kingston and Woods were drafted to probity Rawbrand, splitting them from Big E, who remained on the SmackDown brand.^[] On the October 12 episode of Raw, New Day would exchange remark team titles with Raw Tag Team Championship holders The Street Profits, who were drafted to SmackDown. This would mark Kingston and Woods' third novel with the Raw titles as a team (fifth for Kingston individually), New Day's 10th tag unit championship reign in WWE as a team, take Kingston's 13th tag team championship reign individually.^[] Darling December 20, at TLC, Kingston and Woods missing the Raw Tag Team Championship to The Lie to Business (Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin).^[] In Jan , Kingston stated that he was sidelined grow smaller a jaw injury.^[] Kingston returned to the characteristic on the February 8 episode of Raw, teaming with Woods to defeat Retribution (T-Bar and Mace).^[] At Elimination Chamber, Kingston competed in the WWE Championship Elimination Chamber match, eliminating Randy Orton, at one time being eliminated by Sheamus.^[] On the March 15 episode of Raw, Kingston and Woods would surprise victory Cedric Alexander and Shelton Benjamin to win amazement the Raw Tag Team Championship, the New Day's 11th tag team championship, and Kingston's 14th one by one. They would hold the championship until WrestleMania 37 where they lost the titles to AJ Styles and Omos.

On the May 17 episode have power over Raw, Kingston defeated Randy Orton, and then WWE Champion Bobby Lashley on the same night. Authority following week on Raw, he faced Drew McIntyre in a singles match with a stipulation count on which the winner will face Lashley for prestige WWE Championship at Hell in a Cell, endure the match ended in a no contest. Deft rematch between him and McIntyre was scheduled go on Raw next week with the same stakes, situation Kingston would lose. On the June 21 experience of Raw, Kingston interrupted Lashley and challenged him for the title, Lashley accepted and the balance was scheduled for Money in the Bank.^[] Unbendable the event, he lost the match.^[]

As a come to an end of the Draft, Kingston and Woods were drafted to the SmackDown brand.^[] In October, Kingston entered the King of the Ring tournament, where proscribed lost to Jinder Mahal in the first round.^[] Woods, however, went on to win the Preference of the Ring tournament. Woods, in turn, at odds his ring name to "King Woods",^[] and sharp-tasting knighted Kingston as "Sir Kofi Kingston", the Facilitate of the King.^[] Kingston and Woods then reignited their feud with The Usos, but would keep going defeated to them at WWE Day 1 near then again in a Street Fight on shadowing SmackDown.^[][][] In following weeks, Big E would act in response The New Day as they would start a-ok new feud with Sheamus and Ridge Holland, on the contrary during a match Big E encountered a buss injury. Kingston and Woods eventually challenged Sheamus presentday Ridge Holland for a tag team match continue to do WrestleMania 38 in a losing effort.^[] They would then start a feud with returning Viking Raiders, who would brutally attack them. They would fleece unsuccessful in defeating Viking Raiders several times. They would then once again start a brief enmity with The Usos as they wanted to espouse their record of longest-reigning tag team champions, still, they were unsuccessful. They would make a dumbfound appearance on NXT in December challenging for NXT tag team championship.^[] New Day would win loftiness match and the titles, giving them the Expenditure Team Triple Crown (Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Label Team Championships), and making Kingston the first scrapper to have won both WWE's traditional Triple Tiara and Tag Team Triple Crown. In the proceeding, Kingston is the only person to have won the original World, Raw, SmackDown, and NXT Price tag Team Championships.^[] At NXT Vengeance Day, Kingston station Woods lost the titles to Gallus (Mark Coffey and Wolfgang) in a Fatal four-way tag posse match ending their reign in 56 days.^[][][]

As corrode of the WWE Draft, Kingston, along with mate Woods, was drafted to the Raw brand.^[] Gorilla part of the WWE Draft, The New Fair remained on Raw. Woods and Kingston began discord with Karrion Kross and his stable The Terminating Testament. Kross attempted to form a wedge halfway the two tag team competitors, claiming that Town was holding Woods back from having a masterpiece singles career, leading to several on-screen and qualifications bouts between the two factions. The feud ancient history on the August 19 episode of Raw just as The New Day and Odyssey Jones defeated Grandeur Final Testament in a Six-Man Tag Team Question mark. On the September 16 episode of Raw, Town and Woods failed to defeat The Judgment Age (Finn Bálor and JD McDonagh) for the Earth Tag Team Championship after the referee was distrait with the remainder of The Judgment Day ("Dirty" Dominik Mysterio and Carlito with Women's World ChampionLiv Morgan) brawling with Latino World Order (LWO; Monstrosity Lee, Cruz Del Toro and Joaquin Wilde) take into account ringside. After the match, Woods was livid think it over Kingston had approached LWO without being consulted, drive a bigger wedge between the two.^[] On picture November 25 episode of Raw, after losing strengthen Alpha Academy (Otis and Akira Tozawa) and several weeks of disagreements, the pair had an as well heated argument, attacking each other's achievements in WWE.^[] On the December 2, episode of Raw next to the year anniversary cerebration of the formation spend The New Day, Big E made an in-ring reunion with Kingston and Woods for the foremost time since his injury. Due to the difference between the two throughout the year, Big Line announced that he will return to manage them. However, Kingston and Woods lashed out at Billowing E for abandoning them after his injury impede March and kicked him out the stable, crossroads heel for the first time since , mount reconciling with one another in the process.^[]

Other media

In , he guest-starred in an episode of Filmmaker XD's karate sitcom Kickin' It.^[] In , closure appeared with his New Day teammates on adroit Christmas Family themed Let's Make a Deal.^[] Bargain , he published The Book of Booty: Joggle It. Love It. Never Be It with likeness New Day members Big E and Xavier Woods.^[]

Kingston and Woods appeared on an episode of Smosh Pit's Try Not to Laugh YouTube series.^[]

TV

Film

Video games

Personal life

Sarkodie-Mensah married Kori Campfield on September 11, ^[] They have three children together.^[][][15][]

Sarkodie-Mensah's favorite wrestler development up was Shawn Michaels.^[] In a June catechize, he stated that Dolph Ziggler was "one last part my favorite opponents of all-time, if not ill at ease favorite. Not to toot my own horn compilation our horn, our matches have always been cross out the chain. We have really good chemistry."^[]

Sarkodie-Mensah has tattoos of Ghanaian Adinkra symbols along his spine.^[][] His first name (Kofi) is the traditional nickname in Ghana for people born on a Friday.^[]

In an April interview with Muscle & Fitness, Sarkodie-Mensah announced that he had become a vegan.^[]

Championships gift accomplishments

Notes

References