Look, the only person holding Kofi Kingston back is Kofi Kingston.
The reality is that a whole lot of people would have to get injured before Kofi even had a chance at that spotlight. Kofi has been in WWE for a few years now and yet he still has the same gimmick - albeit minus the phony Jamaican accent.
If there was something there, Kofi would have to prove it to WWE. If it was something worthy of being awarded WWE title shots over, then he would have done it a while ago. Kofi Kingston is at a very comfortable spot in WWE due to being the top African American face. Any chance at going in any new direction with his current gimmick is a HUGE risk as he will always have a place in this company as long as he's willing to remain a face. Kofi Kingston is a very talented wrestler, but race most definitely has the most to do with his place in this company. The kids love him, and he is a go to guy as being not only the role model, but one of the biggest reasons why WWE's detractors (mainstream media) aren't pulling out the race card when they for some odd reason feel the need to criticize WWE's product.
I would love a Kofi Kingston and CM Punk rivalry. They're each others road wife, so they'd definitely sync very well together in the ring. As a matter of fact, I could see a feud with CM Punk as the biggest opportunity Kofi Kingston currently has at being more than just WWE having a defense against the race card, and having a character that isn't as formulaically robotic as his current one. Kofi needs to show WWE that he can express himself more through his words, and be passionate about his work. That isn't something that WWE is keeping him from doing. He just isn't there yet. If anybody can get Kofi to the next level, CM Punk can. It's just completely up to Kofi how he reacts.
This isn't ignorance on my part, folks. Kofi Kingston is being kept on the midcard, the souvenir cups, and so on for the worst reason possible. WWE is looking for the alpha male of every race to help their political correctness. Sheamus is the current Top European Face, Rey Mysterio (and eventually Sin Cara like they hope) as the Top Spanish Face, and I'm sure that they're hoping that some 6'6" Asian juggernaut appears from out of nowhere to fill the current void they have in that regard as well. It's hilarious really how a company that tries it's damndest to be so politically correct are actually corrupt, but they just cannot be called out on it as long as every race has some type of success in WWE. Even funnier that that's how a lot of wrestlers are keeping their jobs as well.
I'm only saying this because of one thing: Look at NXT's roster. Big E. Langston and Lincoln Broderick are two very hungry guys who would love to be in Kofi's place. They're both charismatic (to an extent), but more importantly are HUGE guys that fit the WWE mold. With the emergence of Ryback, this fact should be scary to Kofi Kingston if he does want to someday be a main eventer in WWE. They both have a long way to go before they get called up, so that will give Kofi plenty of time to make or break himself.
I like Kofi Kingston, and I hope for the best.
As everybody here should know, no matter how high your place on the card may be, your spot is never safe.