11 Things We Learned From WWE 24: Kofi Kingston

7. The Origin Of 'Kofi Kingston'

Kofi Kingston Vince McMahon
WWE Network

After graduating from high school, Kofi earned his first job working in the office of pencil-pushers Staples. Although he'd taken the next step on the escalator of life, and was generally pleased to be taking home his first full-time wage, there was a feeling of hollowness inside the suited-and-booted Kingston.

"I knew that I wasn't going to last there," the WWE champ remembers. So he decided to follow his own dream, signing up for Chaotic Wrestling's training academy, making the drive to and from his day job throughout the week.

It was on these drives, whilst jamming to the beats of reggae musician Damian Marley, that Kofi hit upon the Jamaican gimmick which would define his early WWE career. Early promos depict him as a sort of Caribbean Ludvig Borga, disgusted with the state of the USA's environment compared to his fictional paradise. Adding so much character to his honed wrestling skills gave Kofi that little something extra amongst his colleagues, and it wasn't long before he was scouted by WWE's Steve Keirn.

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.