#1.) Kofi Kingston – 2019
The KofiMania story is one that still feels surreal to think about. He was never going to be a part of the WWE title Elimination Chamber match, but an unfortunate injury to [Mustafa] Ali meant that Kingston would take his spot. Before the title match, he had a gauntlet match to go through and he stole the show with an unbelievable hour-long performance.
Everything about it was emotional and intense and though he started, he wasn’t able to go through, being eliminated by AJ Styles. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and that was when they really got behind him. At Elimination Chamber, fans were desperate to see Kingston win but heartbroken as he fell short at the end of it all.
That gauntlet match and Chamber defeat gave Kingston an unexpected level of momentum and he only has himself to think for that. It truly translated into one of the most beautiful stories in WWE this year and fans across the world rejoiced as the Ghana-born superstar became the first-ever African American to win the WWE Championship.
