Kofi Kingston Needs To Turn Heel

[ProWrestlingFan]

Kofi Kingston needs to turn heel.

He has been face for too long.

His character is one-dimensional.

You can hear people chanting "Kofi Sucks" on most RAWs and PPVs.

I think he needs to turn heel. What do you think ?

I think he can be a great heel.

 

[The Talon]

No. No. No. No. No. No.

1. Kofi's been fine as a face for hos WWE career so far.
2. That's why he's getting a moderate push right now, to develop his character some more.
3. When the hell has "Kofi Sucks" chants broken out?

No, Kofi works perfectly fine as a face right now.

 

[scottyshowman82]

You know one of the last times I really marked out for Kofi Kingston is when he met John Cena face to face in the 2011 Royal Rumble. I like would like to see them run a program together because I think their styles would make a great match for the fans. I think even if it is a face vs face dynamic both guys would come out better from that feud especially Kofi Kingston.

 

[Krossbreed]

after seeing cena do all those community events visiting sick kids in hospitals make a wish and stuff like that....i think the opposite...kofi needs to stay face and wwe needs more faces.

 

[The_Sharpshooter]

Terrible idea.

If you want Kofi heel, you have to change his gimmick. If you want him to change his gimmicke, then he has to change his moveset. If he changes his moveset, he'll be someone completely different. If he's someone completely different, he may become more irrelevant.

 

[Aberle4Life]

Kofi shouldn't be a heel for the same reason he's not going to be a main eventer--he doesn't have the personality for it.

He's a solid worker and entertaining to watch wrestle, but he's a soft-spoken guy and a nice guy. He struggles in his promos and doesn't sound intimidating at all. His wrestling style is soft, too--not something a heel can pull off. If he was supposed to become some kind of heel, I don't think it would be believable at all unless he had a brain transplant and could act all of a sudden.

The one time they tried to toughen up Kofi was during his short feud with a then-heel Randy Orton. There's a reason they haven't tried since; he's just not good at that type of character.

He's fine as is--a mid-card face who puts on fine matches and could join up with another wrestler in a tag team at any time.

 

[dudedudedude]

He sells T shirts

Kids love him...and he doesn't actually pander to them

He's Flashy

Is good with the media...

Yeah...Lets turn him hell...

Idiot.

And I'm with the other guy, Never ever ever heard a kofi sucks chant, EVER.

 

[Jerichoholic8894]

He'll never be heel, because just like Zack Ryder, he's the guy that kids tend to really enjoy. Which is something WWE likes right now, plus with Rey Mysterio out, they need someone to carry the "kid load"

He would blow away any steam he has ever got if he turned heel, as said earlier he just doesn't have the personality for it, hell he barely has a personality as a face deeper than "Boom Boom Boom"

I like the guy, I think he'd be a better fit on Smackdown, but I hope he is never higher than upper-mid card (Can throw him in the Main Event scene if needed on SD)

 

[mdcclxxvisoad]

I wouldn't be opposed to a personality change. He is not Jamaican lets lose everything associated with being Jamaican. Lose the dreadlocks. Change the music. Create a new finisher or at least the names of the finishers.

I suggest he wins the King of the Ring and starts a heel turn. Rename him King Kofi. To get rid of Kingston which is associated with Jamaica, and to avoid having the initials K.K.K. I would approach his new gimmick as if he were an African King. Like the King in Coming to America, and have Alicia Fox be his servant. Yet he would approach his gimmick as if he were Malcolm X To rally up the black people like Ezekial Jackson who get jobbed out. To create a new faction similar to Nation of Domination.

I think the timing is good, given that Ron Simmons was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

They could call the new faction. D.A.M.Nation. Disrespected African Men Nation

perhaps I'm overboard in my thinking, but I think Kofi deserves a gimmick change, but I still believe he belongs in the mid card. Yet there's nothing wrong with staying in the mid card if you are given good material to work with and allowed to have great matches.

I'm still questioning his mic skills, because I've never heard him say anything other than what's been scripted.

 

[Skinsley]

Kofi Kingston needs a slight Gimmick change.... a change that may already be taking place.
But nothing more.

For a while now I have been noticing that Kofi is a little bland but could make something of his career with a little tweak. The pre EliminationChamber Raw where Kofi took offence and made a great promo on the Mic before Kicking Jericho to Paridise was just the difference that I believe he needed. And if he remains a FACE but with a more serious and agressive attitude like he portrayed at that nights Raw then I believe only good things will happen.

P.S. That "controlled Frenzy" thing was utter crap.

 

[Jerichoholic8894]

At most, he needs to be repackaged just a little bit, not too much, maybe a more serious face. but a full heel turn would be more bad than good IMO

 

[The 1-2-3 Killam]

No. No. No. No. No. No.

1. Kofi's been fine as a face for hos WWE career so far.
2. That's why he's getting a moderate push right now, to develop his character some more.
3. When the hell has "Kofi Sucks" chants broken out?

No, Kofi works perfectly fine as a face right now.

1.) You're like an anti-Daniel Bryan, but just as annoying. I'll agree with you this far: Kofi HAS been FINE for HIS WWE career thus far. Key word: FINE. "Fine" doesn't cut it in the WWE - "fine" gets you shelved for your entire career, used when absolutely needed, and cast away when your usefulness has completely run dry. Case in point: Chavo Guerrero. I'm not saying he NEEDS to turn face, but your argument against it is terrible.

2.) He got a moderate push because a) he did well with Air Boom before Bourne went and screwed it all up for him, and more importantly b) WWE fired John Morrison and they needed a spot monkey for the Elimination Chamber.

3.) It's happened. I'm guessing some of the same people that boo under-used faces on principle...

Terrible idea.

If you want Kofi heel, you have to change his gimmick. If you want him to change his gimmicke, then he has to change his moveset. If he changes his moveset, he'll be someone completely different. If he's someone completely different, he may become more irrelevant.

Not the most eloquently put response, but the idea here is solid. Heels and faces aren't just different in attitude and promo design, they're different in ring psychology as well. His move set is entirely too exciting for young kids to boo properly. That may sound stupid, but I really believe it's true. I like Kofi's moveset - he's fast but has an excellent mat game as well. He's a great worker, and that's definitely one of his best strengths. Heel Kofi might also be a great worker, but he's have to slow down. He'd have to be more methodical and do things the way WWE likes to book their heels. No way do I want to see Kofi go down that smug, cocky bastard route they've taken EVERY heel through in the last few years.

There's a simple solution to making Kofi a more realized, relevant player on Monday nights, and it has nothing to do with his ring work, heel/face orientation, or gimmick: let him talk. People mention the Randy Orton feud a lot, but Kofi showed some serious aggression and proved that he has it in him to be great... I don't see a laziness that keeps some guys back. When you look at Shelton Benjamin's career you can always say "oh, he was gifted but never did anything to the best of his ability. He never gave it all he had, and that's why he wasn't pushed." Kofi's a great worker, and he genuinely gives it all - at least that's the way it comes across to me. I think it's more or less a case of being stuck as a certain type of worker in Vince McMahon's head. He's that go-to guy, like a John Morrison, that can be thrown into a match to get a decent reaction for a top heel. That can be helpful, but it can also be a death sentence for a young faces career...

Hopefully he'll do well with everything he's handed, and push for more mic time. That's really all he needs...

 

[The Wolf]

I wouldn't be opposed to a personality change. He is not Jamaican lets lose everything associated with being Jamaican. Lose the dreadlocks. Change the music. Create a new finisher or at least the names of the finishers.

I suggest he wins the King of the Ring and starts a heel turn. Rename him King Kofi. To get rid of Kingston which is associated with Jamaica, and to avoid having the initials K.K.K. I would approach his new gimmick as if he were an African King. Like the King in Coming to America, and have Alicia Fox be his servant. Yet he would approach his gimmick as if he were Malcolm X To rally up the black people like Ezekial Jackson who get jobbed out. To create a new faction similar to Nation of Domination.

I think the timing is good, given that Ron Simmons was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

They could call the new faction. D.A.M.Nation. Disrespected African Men Nation

perhaps I'm overboard in my thinking, but I think Kofi deserves a gimmick change, but I still believe he belongs in the mid card. Yet there's nothing wrong with staying in the mid card if you are given good material to work with and allowed to have great matches.

I'm still questioning his mic skills, because I've never heard him say anything other than what's been scripted.

Gimmick change Yes lose most of his Jamaican theme, Name change No (there are Kingston's in the USA). I have thought of the idea of a new Nation of Domination but needs to be done right and my first thought was just like yours just with Shelton Benjamin with out the king of the ring.

I believe he should be more vicious heel or face. I always think back to his fued with Randy Orton when I look back at his best work, and I have 2 videos that show why I believe what I do

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVds4vwGaKw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBaVSl5y4c8

 

[ForzaItalia]

No, just no. We have enough heels already as it is and losing Kofi as a baby face, which Raw lacks very much right now would be very bad for booking. If Vince doesn't want to push guys like Alex Riley and Zack Ryder as legit babyfaces, which he desperately needs, then Kofi needs to stay a face and no matter how long he is a mid-carder; He is needed very badly in a show lacking babyfaces that can actually get over with the crowd.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think a slight gimmick alteration, which someone else pointed out, MIGHT be, just might be, happening slowly right now as we speak, would be more beneficial to Kofi. I've NEVER heard a "Kofi sucks" chant in my life and the fact that there are some fans that just aren't into the guy is naturally to be expected but that doesn't automatically warrant a heel turn.

When Kofi Kingston was feuding with Randy Orton back in 2009, we saw glimpses of what Kofi could bring to the table. For instance, when Kofi trashed the Randy Orton stock car, we saw that Kofi has the ability to bring that energetic intensity out in meaningful and even edgy ways. Like Daniel Bryan, I think that Kofi Kingston is someone that has the ability to be good on the mic if given a real chance to do so. The problem is that he just really hasn't been given that time or those spots to develop himself as a presence on the mic and be more than just this high flying, enegetic face.

 

[scottyshowman82]

I do think the OP is getting killed here a little bit too much. As some of you have said I think he does need a little something extra. I wouldn't be suprised if people are chanting Kofi sucks. People are very unforgiving these days when gimmicks get stale. People started to rescent Rey Mysterio because he's been the same for so long. The Miz recently called him an afterthought and Kofi partially agreed. WWE has a bad habit of starting things and not finishing them. They should have kept that Kofi with an edge thing they had going when Kingston did the boom drop on Orton and MSG a few years back.

Kofi is very athletically gifted in the ring, he does have a following and stars aren't dropping out of the sky these days. WWE would be smart to invest more efforts in him.

 

[#BabyFace]

WTF? Ive never in my life heard a "Kofi Sucks" chant. Im not opposed to the idea but i doubt it would happen. I think he can get a push without being heel.

 

[Peoples_Champ]

How is this even a topic? This is ridiculously stupid. How is WWE going to get fans to boo a high flyer? Other than Owen, has there been a high flyer that has been heel? Kofi must be one of the top 5 merchandise sellers on the roster right now. Killing that cash cow is ridiculously stupid.

 

[TheChosenOne10]

I just can't picture the guy heel. He isn't amazing on the mike and i think that is one main factor you need in being a successful heel. His move set is also far to "face" to be heel. He's a high flyer and well he even looks like a face. I think if his recent push gets him over as a credible face and potential future main evener then i believe a heel turn could work. Right now is not the time though. I honestly think Kofi can be a top level face right now, he reminds me of RVD in the sense that Rob wasn't/isnt a good talker but both are high flyers. I would love to see Kofi over on SD and put him in a long feud with Cody maybe trade the title back and forth a bit.

Not everyone needs to be a main eventer, i think some guys are more suited to be in the mid card and theres no shame in that. Kofi imo is one of those guys. I wouldn't mind him getting runs at the heavyweight belts but i don't think he should get it. Id like to see them focus on a mid card division and build it around guys like Cody, Kofi, Swagger and such. Maybe eventually they'll get to the next level but there is no need to rush it. I miss the way they had guys really fight for the IC belt and years later move up the ranks like Jericho, Angle, Benoit and Guerrero did. I say build these guys up like them. Sorry for getting slightly off topic here, in all, Kofi should remain face.

 

[IHW]

I think he would work as a heel, but would turn out like Truth and go right back.
Kofi is pretty over, and a heel turn is not the answer to everything.

 

[Lord_Frish]

It seems that WWE is planning on pairing up Kofi an Truth. In which case he should stay a face and he can be the straight man to Truth's insanity. I don't think Kofi needs any gimmick change, he just needs someone he can work with. Evan Bourne was too similar to Kofi for that to work. I think Kofi's personality will mix well with Truth's craziness.

People are too quick to call for a gimmick change, gimmicks should work well with the personality of the wrestler it is given to. That is why the Miz is so believable when he acts arrogant, because he already is arrogant. I think WWE for the most part, does try to do this already.

 

[AwesomeRko]

A few months ago I would have completely agreed with you but now I'm not so sure it kind of seems like hes developing slightly as a face into a more interesting character worthy of the main event. The mic time he was give in the debate segment showed that he is actually an ok speaker and could cut a decent face promo. That plus his clean victory over the Miz, good showing at EC and at the rumble seem to suggest that the WWE might just be ready to give him a chance at the main event. While I do think his charcter could be given more depth (his current standing as a happy jamaican man announced from Ghana West Africa with a broad American accent confuses me) this could be accomplished as a face simply through giving him more mic time and toning down the over zealous boom boom stuff slightly. I think itl be interesting to see how he develops this year I personally expect him to get drafted to SD and be given an opportunity in the main event there due to their current shortage in top face superstars.

 

[BB79]

I agree with most everyone else. The "boom boom boom" thing is more than annoying, bad enough he does the gesture and says it once, but 2 or three times a match just makes him seem ridiculous.

 

[Khalifa]

No he doesn't. Kofi gets a massive pop and does nothing on the mic, so to have him turn heel would solve nothing. Also look at all the heel up and comers coming through. You have guys like Rhodes, Ziggler and Wade Barret who need that main event spot and work great as a heel already. We all know Kofi is going to get a shot at the title eventually so to have him up against a heel would be Rey Mysterio like. By Rey Mysterio like I mean any heel can wrestle him and they would generate massive heat from it just because of Kofi.

Kofi works good as a face, has the crowd with him and isn't boring at all. Keep him face!

 

[Headman]

What exactly does the OP see in him that would make him think Kofi would be a good heel? We don't need another generic heel who's bad for the sake of being bad. I hate this concept that the only way to freshen up a character is a change in alignment.