Kofi Kingston Confirmed As Daniel Bryan’s Fastlane Opponent

Kofi Kingston was revealed as Daniel Bryan’s challenger for the WWE Championship at Fastlane on SmackDown Live.

Prior to a six-man tag featuring all of the men who competed in the Elimination Chamber main event two nights earlier, champion Bryan stated that he would not be defending the belt at Fastlane against anyone in the match because he had already beaten them all.

He had a point.

Nevertheless, Bryan was pinned by Kingston following Trouble In Paradise and Shane McMahon made the match for the pay-per-view as the show went off the air.

KofiMania is running wild!

It's happening.

Per @shanemcmahon, #TheNew @WWEDanielBryan will defend his title against @TrueKofi at #WWEFastlane!!! #SDLive pic.twitter.com/okYjrSGYI0

— WWE (@WWE) February 20, 2019

It was reported earlier that Kofi was not the originally planned opponent for Bryan at the show (AJ Styles was previously part of the local advertising against Bryan) but WWE has capitalised on the New Day man’s momentum, listened to its audience and changed its mind.

Even so, the news may come as a disappointment to some, who might have been hoping that WWE would save Kingston-Bryan for WrestleMania in order to crown Kofi on the biggest stage possible. Just imagine having potentially three main events on the show in which there are clear heels the fans will boo and three babyfaces they desperately want to succeed.

Oh well.

Instead it looks like Kevin Owens is the favourite to fill the role, which will be fine, but it will be very difficult for WWE to give him anything close to the momentum that Kingston has between his return at ‘Mania.

Should WWE have waited a month before pulling the trigger or are they right to ride the Kofi momentum now? Let us know in the comments below.

• kofi kingston
• fastlane
• Daniel Bryan
• Smackdown

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