10 Times WWE Punished Success

1. Kofi Kingston

Randy Orton Kofi Kingston
WWE.com

SummerSlam 2019's feud between Kofi Kingston and Randy Orton relies on their history as enemies. Back in 2009, Randy cut the legs out from underneath Kofi when he was heating up, and it's taken the one-time phoney Jamaican nearly 10 years to scramble his way back to the top.

Who knows how different things could've been had Orton not been on a power trip.

In November 2009, Kofi blasted Randy through a table in the hallowed halls of Madison Square Garden and looked every bit like WWE's next babyface hit. His main event run was virtually guaranteed at that moment, and fans responded in kind to Kingston dropping the Jamaican accent, ruining Randy's sports car and cutting some seriously good promos.

It all went to sh*t when Kofi botched an RKO finish, Orton spat his dummy and the entitled headliner complained to management that Kingston wasn't ready. They listened when they should have persevered, and the successful run Kofi was on dried up quick. He was punished for the smallest of incidents.

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When else has WWE punished success? Let us know your thoughts and memories down in the comments section!

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.