5 signs Kofi Kingston's reign as WWE Champion will end soon

At WrestleMania 35, Kofi Kingston captured the WWE Championship from Daniel Bryan in a truly emotional match.

In the weeks running up to the encounter, Kingston had had to go through hoop after hoop just to qualify, and even when he did, he was told he couldn't win the big one, even being referred to as a B+ Player.

Since winning the gold, Kofi has successfully retained the title against Daniel Bryan, Kevin Owens, Dolph Ziggler, Samoa Joe and Randy Orton, in what is a solid list of vanquished foes.

But with all these Superstars beaten, we have to wonder, who is left for Kofi on SmackDown, and when will his reign come to an end?

Though we don't know who will be the newest challenger to try and take the gold, we feel that Kingston's time may be coming to an end sooner rather than later.

Here are five signs Kofi Kingston's reign as WWE Champion will end soon.

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#5 It's gone on long enough

Fans could turn on Kofi if his reign lasts too long.

Kofi's reign has been impressive, to say the least, and for years, it looked like it would never happen.

But now that it has, Kofi has been champion for nearly five months, and in this fast-paced era, it looks like it's time for a change.

We all know how fickle fans can be (just ask Daniel Bryan!), and keeping the title reign going much longer could cause serious problems.

By the time AJ Styles lost the gold after a year, there were countless fans who had turned on the then-face Phenomenal One.

With Kofi being one of the most natural and likable babyfaces in years, taking the title off of him may be the best choice for everyone involved.

#4 The title reign has done its job

Kofi's title reign has elevated him to the next level. Now it's someone else's turn.

From the moment Ali was taken out of the Elimination Chamber match earlier this year, things quickly changed. Replaced by Kofi, the Ghanain Superstar's performance would help lead an army of fans to his side, leading to his WWE Championship win at WrestleMania 35.

But WrestleMania was a long time ago, and since then, Kofi has retained his title against the likes of Dolph Ziggler, Samoa Joe, and Randy Orton.

But if we're being honest, how many fans can genuinely say they care as much about Kofi now, as they did at WrestleMania? With that said, it's clear the title has elevated the New Day star.

Instead of being seen as just another mid-carder on a roster full of them, Kofi is seen as a true star, in his own right and has reached the apex of his career.

His reign has been fine, and has helped elevate the star to a point many fans thought he'd never reach. But now he has reached it, it's time for someone else to hold the gold, and for a new story to develop.

#3 It's hurting the tag team division

The SmackDown Tag titles have played second fiddle to Kofi's reign.

Tag Team wrestling is an art, and when done right, can be just as exciting as its singles counterpart. For years, Kofi was a tag team star with the likes of Evan Bourne and R-Truth, and is still considered one by many fans, due to his work with the New Day.

But since he won the WWE Title, the entire New Day's focus has been on Kingston's reign, and even though Xavier Woods and Big E captured the SmackDown Tag Team Titles at Extreme Rules, these titles have been forgotten in favour of the pair helping their tag team partner.

Though the company could always take the titles off of Woods and Big E, there aren't that many other teams on the blue brand to give them to.

In addition, it wouldn't exactly be the best look for the New Day if they lost the tag titles not so long after winning them in the first place.

If the company wants to make the SmackDown Tag Team titles prominent once again, then it may come at the expense of WWE Champion Kofi Kingston.

#2 He's not the most popular star anymore

The feud between Shane and Owens has become the focal point of SmackDown.

When Kofi Kingston captured the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35, it was a long time coming. For eleven years on the main roster, Kingston had fulfilled his role as a mid-card and tag star, making his win against Daniel Bryan a truly emotional victory.

When Kofi won the gold, many fans compared him to the Bryan of 2014, as the pair had both collected a legion of fans, making them the most popular stars of their respective times.

But now, it's clear Kofi doesn't have the same star power he had just a few months prior.

Look at the state of SmackDown recently. There is arguably no-one more popular on the blue brand than Kevin Owens, as the Canadian's war with the 'Best in the World' Shane McMahon, has him being compared to 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and CM Punk.

Kofi's reign has been fine, but with Pay Per Views being dual-branded, and Owens being a more popular star, the Champion has consistently played second fiddle, and it's time to give someone else a chance with the gold.

#1 The Fox deal

A huge WWE title change would be an explosive way to kick off SmackDown's time on FOX.

In just a matter of weeks, SmackDown Live will make a major move to Fox Sports 1, the first time the blue brand has moved since coming to the USA Network in 2016. Obviously, the move to FOX is a huge one for the company, and WWE is doing everything in its power to get off on the right foot.

With a huge debut episode scheduled for October 4, WWE has already announced a triple threat title match for the New Day star, with Kofi putting his title on the line against both Dolph Ziggler and Randy Orton.

The eyes of the wrestling world will be on the FOX debut, and a huge title change could be exactly what the show needs to show the FOX executives the exciting, unpredictable action that the blue brand can bring.

Though either the Show Off or the Viper would make a fine champion, I'd put my money on Orton, as his name is a much bigger brand than either Kingston or Ziggler.

WWE wants a huge name for their new deal on FOX, and that's exactly what Orton brings.