'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Kofi Kingston may have set a new record for longest time spent in an individual match on SmackDown Live. We can't confirm the exact time as of yet, but it's believed that Kingston spent around a little over 70 minutes in the Gauntlet match.
If that is the case, then that means that Kingston beat Seth Rollins' RAW record last year when he wrestled for 65 minutes straight, eliminating both John Cena and Roman Reigns. Kofi wasn't even supposed to be in the match. In fact, Mustafa Ali was, but due to an injury, he's been pulled from Elimination Chamber.
Xavier Woods and Big E both teased coming in, but Kofi was the rightful choice to take the spot. And what a performance it was. He pinned the WWE Champion Daniel Bryan, former WWE Champion Jeff Hardy and even The Samoan Submission Machine Samoa Joe.
Trending
So why did Kofi Kingston get the coveted Iron Man spot? We reveal a few possible reasons why!
New Champs in WWE! More RIGHT HERE
#5. Cement Kofi Kingston's legitimacy in the Chamber match
Kofi Kingston was a replacement, and WWE needed to cement his legitimacy to challenge for the WWE Championship. What better way to do so than by a performance like this? While Kingston's experience alone should most definitely justify him challenging for the WWE Championship, it definitely gave him a bigger sense of credibility.
Despite his loss, fans were in awe of his performance and gave him a standing ovation as he left the arena. While he's had three experiences inside the Elimination Chamber before, and one successful outing, Kingston will definitely look to rack up his first Elimination Chamber victory as a singles star.
Wouldn't it be incredible if Kofi Kingston were to walk into WrestleMania as WWE Champion? It's hard to argue that he doesn't deserve it.
#4. Long overdue entry into the World title picture
Kofi Kingston, in the eyes of many fans, should have been world champion a long time ago. If we're going back in time, you might remember that he had a heated feud with Randy Orton in late 2009, where he was still relatively young and fresh in his career.
He was finding his stride as a babyface and feuding with Orton, who played a vicious heel. However, it was one botch by Kingston that reportedly scrapped his push at the time, and Orton would win their feud.
Had that gone well, there is no doubt that Kingston would have been ready for an eventual World Championship push. It never came to be, but time and again through the last few years, WWE has teased Kingston entering the WWE title picture. Xavier Woods and Big E have been the biggest advocates for Kofi Kingston as WWE Champion.
#3. A showcase of his skills in the Gauntlet match
Just in case you forgot - Kofi Kingston is really good. He's been doing this for over a decade now, and it's easy to take veterans like him for granted. However, given that he's been with The New Day and seen so much tag team success over the last four years and change, it's quite easy to forget that he is still one of the most talented, athletic superstars on the WWE roster.
The match was somewhat of a reminder of what Kofi Kingston was capable of. While he may not possess the wide variety of arsenal that Daniel Bryan displayed tonight, he can most definitely hold his own and the heart he displayed was absolutely unforgettable.
It's not a performance that's easily forgotten, and it will forever go down as one of his career-great moments despite losing. He's probably created a lot of buzz about himself now.
#2. Best candidate for the Gauntlet Match Iron Man
If you think about it, AJ Styles doesn't need the spot. Randy Orton isn't exactly an Iron Man, Daniel Bryan had his role of being pinned early, Jeff Hardy can't go to the same level anymore, while Samoa Joe too, had a certain role, being the biggest threat to Kingston.
In that sense, Mustafa Ali would have been great for the role, but it's good that a veteran like Kofi Kingston got to have the "Seth Rollins spot" in the Gauntlet match this year. As we said, he even likely broke Rollins' Gauntlet match record, and we all know what wonders that Gauntlet match did for Rollins last year.
It basically gave him a whole new wave of momentum, something that he still carries heading into WrestleMania 35. Kingston was the right pick to be the Iron man of the match. Hopefully, he has a good showing at the Chamber.
#1. A change in structure for The New Day
As we mentioned, WWE has teased on more than one occasion that Kofi Kingston will move out of the tag team title picture and enter the World Championship picture. After all, he wants to accomplish his dream of being World champion one day and his fellow-New Day members are by far his biggest supporters.
We've seen The New Day dominate the tag team division on both RAW and SmackDown Live, and they can still do so, but it doesn't necessarily need to be under the Freebird rule again.
With The New Day needing a change in structure after having the same gimmick for years, Kofi Kingston moving into singles stardom could be a big indication of that.
Would you like to see The New Day have a change-up? What did you think of Kofi Kingston's outstanding performance on SmackDown Live? Voice your opinions in the comments below!
