4 WWE Superstars who weren't actually supposed to receive a top push (and the reasons why they still got it)

#2 Kofi Kingston

Fans were screaming their heads off for WWE to push Kofi Kingston. The current WWE Champion found himself in a similar situation that Daniel Bryan was once in 2014. Kingston wasn’t going to be a contender for the WWE Championship but an unfortunate eye injury suffered by Ali on SmackDown Live altered the ongoing plans. Ali, who was supposed to be in the gauntlet match, spent his time outside the ring until he recovered completely.

Meanwhile, WWE still had to find a replacement and they chose Kofi Kingston. The 38-year old Superstar exceeded WWE’s expectations during the match and his performance was so incredible that the audience started the KofiMania movement on SmackDown Live.

WWE was quick - or perhaps, too late - to see the potential in Kingston but at least they didn’t waste this opportunity. Vince McMahon aligned him into a feud with Daniel Bryan and they started calling him a ‘B+ player’ - a term Vinnie Mac used against Bryan years ago.

After putting roadblocks after roadblocks, Mr. McMahon finally gave in when The New Day beat Daniel Bryan and Erick Rowan at this command to earn their friend Kofi Kingston a title shot at WrestleMania 35.