Former WWE Champion Kofi Kingston and The New Day were recently interviewed by the “After The Bell” podcast to talk about several professional wrestling topics.
Here are the highlights:
Kingston on not getting a rematch with Brock Lesnar for the WWE Title:
It wasn’t up to me but I have said this on a few different interviews, it kind of is what it is. You show up to work and find out what you are doing and you kind of do it, so, this is weird too. A lot of people will be on my social media and saying, ‘Well, Kofi, you are out there and you are acting like you don’t care. Did you forget that you were the world champion?’ I’m like, well, look, you are asking my on-screen character to be angry as if it’s my real character. I think it’s one of those things where it kind of is what it is.
In reality, I am on screen, I am a good guy. I lost in eight seconds, so as far as making a case for a rematch what would my character have to say? Give me another shot Brock, I lost in eight seconds but I’ll get you next time! You’re asking my real-life character to take on this anger and be mad with the way it happened on-screen, but for me personally, I have always approached this business as somebody who is always trying to move forward.
You can’t dwell on one day. There have been a lot of days where they have been negative for a lack of a better term but if you dwell on those you are miserable and you don’t want to come to work, but I’m just trying to push forward. I think it’s more important to always try to put a foot forward; always try climbing mountains and keep on setting records and keep on doing positive things in this industry because it doesn’t last forever.
I feel like it is a waste of time to dwell on the negative aspects of things so that is where I am at with that whole situation. I appreciate the passion that people have, but I am puzzled at some of the anger people have towards me because I am not the one who is making those decisions. It is what it is.
Xavier Woods on Kingston losing the WWE Title and how it won’t affect The New Day’s long-term plans:
I think also too that people need to realize that each match is not a war. Each match segment that talent is given is not a battle. Clearly, New Day is still here, we are tag-team champions, so for us the war is not over. I don’t think it will ever be over for us, but we are fighting as much as possible. It was a battle for Kofi. It was a battle for all of us, but it’s not the end of the war.
So, understand that The New Day will always constantly fight and will do all we can to win those fights, but we are gunning for the war, not the one fight. The whole story was unbelievable and so inspiring for so many people so for it to end the way it did, as Kofi said, I can understand the frustration. But the anger I feel is possibly misplaced in the larger picture, because if you don’t, you are going to cry every time you have to look forward.
H/T Wrestling Inc. for the transcriptions
