10 Wrestlers So Good They Changed Vince McMahon's Mind

"Maybe one day you'll get over."

Vince McMahon once said this to Kofi Kinston on a plane, either as a test of Kofi's backbone or just to be a snide prick, really, it was never made clear. Nonetheless, as recounted in his autobiography Best In The World (At What I Have No Idea), Chris Jericho urged Kofi to interpret it as a challenge. Keenly aware of the extent to which Vince is batsh*t crazy, he told Kofi to fight back. Kofi did; after a tense verbal exchange, Vince tried to take down Kofi's legs, mid-flight, imagine not having this as your hobby, and then stood up laughing, perhaps ruffling Kofi's hair.

This may have marked a turning point in Kofi's career; perhaps Vince became open to Kofi and the New Day's petition to fashion the stable in their own, breezy, idiosyncratic image. Kofi did get all the way over on that vehicle. The comedy was goofy, but endearing, and intersected perfectly across several demographics. The kids loved the colourful attire and broad performance; the adults happily regressed in thrall to the chemistry and interplay. The popularity of the faction was such that Kofi this year took down WWE's WrestleMania 35 plans through his mature, varied work in a great, reactive storyline.

Harper: if you want to earn Vince's respect, forcibly remove him from his feet. Didn't work for Titus O'Neil, actually.

Just learn how to do a southern accent.

It's been four years.