Kofi Kingston Says Daniel Bryan Is The “Unsung Hero” Of His Success

It’s fair to say that Kofi Kingston isn’t the stereotypical build for a WWE Champion.

Kingston won the belt from Daniel Bryan, another smaller than average WWE star, and Kofi believes that Bryan has played a huge part in getting people like him to the top of the roster.

Speaking to Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso, Kingston called Bryan the “unsung hero” of his success, saying that without Bryan, people like him would never have been able to become champion.

“Bryan is the unsung hero,” said Kingston. “And he’s done a lot for guys who are undersized but showed they can still be cast in this top guy spot. He’s done it so well for a very, very long time.

“And Bryan went through that identical journey I did to get to WrestleMania. He was badgered and blocked by The Authority and called a B-plus player, that was his story, and it became mine, too. We don’t get a lot of shine in main events, we’re not 6’8″ and 300 pounds, so the fact that he was my opponent was poetic. I have a whole lot of respect for Bryan and the boundaries he’s been able to break.”

Kingston also spoke about the emotion of facing Daniel Bryan for the championship at WrestleMania 35.

“Right from the beginning, I could feel the excitement the crowd had for that match,” said Kingston. “Then Daniel Bryan came to the ring. We met eyes, and he said, ‘You don’t deserve to be here.’ That’s the moment I knew, ‘Yes, I do.’

“I was in complete disbelief when the ref’s hand hit the mat for the third time. So many things have to line up for that moment to happen. If I don’t meet Big E and Xavier, then I never get to this point. So I was hit with all of those thoughts. When I got to the back, Vince was smiling. Tyler Breeze was there waiting for me, The Usos were there, there were so many people there waiting for me.”