10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (Dec 13)
2. Why Big E Didn't Want Kofi Kingston In New Day
Before Kofi Kingston joined the group that'd become New Day, names like Byron Saxton and Abraham Washington were knocked around as partners for Xavier Woods and Big E. They didn't seem high profile enough for Woods, which is why he suggested that Kingston be the stable's linchpin.
Rather incredibly, E wasn't keen at first. He knew that Kofi was a top talent, but he didn't believe for one second that WWE management would ever let Kingston turn heel, and he thought New Day needed to be bad guys if they were ever going to survive.
That's why E shook his head and said no thank you, sir.
The trio talked about this time on their new WWE-produced show 'Feel The Power'. Things could've turned out so differently for them had Vince and other power players agreed that Kofi didn't fit the gig. Obviously, he did, and 'Trillogy' had a ton of success.