WrestleMania 35: What if Kofi Kingston really isn’t challenging Daniel Bryan?

Since the SmackDown before Elimination Chamber, Kofi Kingston has really caught the attention of the WWE Universe. Gutsy marathon runs in two gauntlet matches and nearly capturing the WWE Championship at Elimination Chamber have endeared the veteran to fans. Moreover, the story of Mr. McMahon repeatedly screwing Kingston out of title opportunities, or the chance to face Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania have only made fans more and more heated and vocal in their support of New Day’s favorite son.

The general assumption at this point is that Kingston will be placed in the challenger role for ‘Mania. While WWE is notorious for questionable choices in who is pushed on top, the fan reaction is loud enough now that WWE would be asking for trouble with any other choice. Moreover, under three weeks out from WrestleMania, no other contender has been established in terms of storylines.

But what if WWE really doesn’t put Kingston into this title match? It doesn’t seem likely at this point, but this article nonetheless considers what could happen if that were the case.

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#4 Kofi Kingston never wins his world title

It may be now or never for Kofi Kingston's main event ambitions.

Kofi Kingston has never had momentum like this behind him in his career, and if WWE ever were to pull the trigger on him winning a world title, there’s little question that this is the moment when fans would be fully behind that decision. If Kingston gets the WrestleMania match and loses, there’s still conceivably a redemption story to be told about him rising from the ashes to come back and win the title later in the year, or getting the strap if Bryan gets hurt and the company needs a transitional champ.

However, if Kingston doesn’t get the WWE Championship match at all this year at WrestleMania, it pretty much seals the deal that the powers that be don’t see him as a main event level guy. Maybe he would still get a world title match at a future B-PPV, but if WWE doesn’t at least give him a chance to work a world title match at WrestleMania, there’s very little reason to believe that he’ll ever actually win the title.

#3 A completely unexpected returning challenger

WWE would need a challenger from completely out of left field if Kofi Kingston isn't in the title match.

As demonstrated by the crowd response to Kevin Owens and Mustafa Ali at Fastlane, the fans want Kofi Kingston challenging for the WWE Championship and are not going to be satisfied with anyone else—even stars they ordinarily like and may have chosen over Kingston a couple months ago. Owens, Ali, a returning Sami Zayn, or even Dean Ambrose deciding to stay with WWE and go for the title—none of these routes that would have, on paper, worked at the turn of the year would be well received at this point in time.

If WWE did decide against Kingston, it would have to be an unexpected, and truly electric wrestler to ably fill his spot on the WWE Championship match. A big call up like Johnny Gargano (NXT Champion vs. WWE Champion?) might satisfy hardcore fans to a degree. A legend like Shawn Michaels, The Undertaker, or John Cena would have promise, particularly for the casual fan base. The Rock is probably the biggest name WWE could plug into this spot. A returning CM Punk may well have buzz enough, though he carries his own baggage (besides which, there’s no indication he’s open to a WWE return).

In the end, if WWE were to choose against Kingston, they’d surely be shrewd enough to at least throw in a major curveball. Nonetheless, it’s hard to imagine fans being happy with anyone over Kingston at this point.

#2 Daniel Bryan retains

Daniel Bryan may retain his title if he's paired with a new challenger.

If Kofi Kingston were to be denied his WrestleMania title opportunity, then there’s truly no one set up to take the tile off of Daniel Bryan. Moreover, there is no one—shy of a truly shocking and well-loved legend—who could be built into a credible new champion with just two weeks of TV left to go before WrestleMania.

And so it follows that Bryan would end up retaining the title at the biggest show of the year to further his reign. That choice has some merit. Bryan is performing exceptionally well in his role and WWE reportedly wants to protect him as a long term top heel. Moreover, Bryan holding onto the title fits with the broader story that WWE wants long title reigns to enhance the credibility of its top championships.

If Bryan is going to retain anyway, is it just as well for Kingston not to challenge for the title, and risk deflating the stadium crowd when he gets pinned? It’s a debatable point, though it would seem most fans want to see Kingston in this match, regardless of the outcome.

#1 New Day challenges for the tag titles

If Kofi Kingston doesn't get his title match, New Day and their fans may get a consolation prize.

If Kofi Kingston were not to challenge for the WWE Championship, it’s reasonable to think that New Day would find itself in a SmackDown Tag Team Championship match, and more likely than not relieving The Usos of the belts at WrestleMania. After all, Big E and Xavier Woods have gotten a spotlight alongside Kingston in his big push, and keeping the trio off of WrestleMania altogether doesn’t feel like an option at all at this point.

To keep this scenario alive, The Usos don’t have a WrestleMania match lined up yet. Rumors hint at them facing off with the newly reunited Hardy Boyz, or perhaps defending in a three- or four-way situation that would bring other SmackDown teams into the mix. Maybe New Day could be added to that cluster; maybe they’d challenge The Usos heads up, to rekindle their rivalry. In either case, it would be hard to imagine New Day not winning, as a small consolation to Kingston fans.