10 Late Replacements Who Won Big In WWE

What: Elimination Chamber Match/WWE Championship, Elimination Chamber 2019

Replaced: Mustafa Ali

Kofi Kingston rode one of the most unexpectedly phenomenal waves of undying support in 2019, all the way to a historic WWE Championship win at WrestleMania 35.

The road to becoming the company's top dog was as wonderful and wholesome as it was out of absolutely nowhere.

All coming down to the misfortune of one man: Mustafa Ali.

Ali was to take part in the Elimination Chamber match for Daniel Bryan’s WWE Championship, but an injury in the weeks before ruled him out, allowing one member of The New Day to step in his place.

An hour-long Gauntlet Match performance - one of many on his journey - catapulted his fan support leading into the pay-per-view, where he again put in a working man’s performance, surviving until the final two before losing at the last hurdle to Bryan.

The former Jamaican then endured a bait-and-switch at Fastlane where a returning Kevin Owens was given his title shot by Mr McMahon. Another gauntlet match followed, beating five other superstars for his 'Mania match before Vince crashed the party again, announcing Bryan as the final superstar to beat, subsequently losing to the champ once again.

It would take one final Gauntlet (again!) match, this time with partners Big E and Xavier Woods at the helm, for Kingston to get his shot at the belt, finally defeating Bryan at 'The Show of Shows' and putting his name down in wrestling history.

All because of a late call up.