Prior to SmackDown’s move to FOX, WWE Champion spoke with Fox News about his current feud with Randy Orton, racial barriers in WWE, and his genuine connection with the fans.
Check out highlights below:
On breaking racial barriers:
It means the world, especially when we talk about representation being so important. For me to be the first African-born WWE Champion is incredible because now, people who look like myself can look at TV and see on WWE television that anything is possible because I’m doing it.
Why his feud with Randy Orton is real:
The best angles and the best stories always hinge on reality. Throughout the history of WWE, all the best storylines have a little touch of what’s real behind them. For me, this is very, very real. Everyone is having a great time with the story and so am I, but there’s a very real level to it too — very important part.
On why he has a strong connection with fans:
[Without the fans,] this moment doesn’t happen, you know what I’m saying, if they didn’t demand for me to be there. Everybody before the show is chanting Kofi Mania… it’s awesome when [fans] say it and they bring their signs and everyone’s talking about how they followed me throughout my career. I’ve always really tried to just take a moment with a fan if someone comes out to me and wants a picture or says hello.
I really try to take a moment with them because it would have meant the world to me if I would have met one of my heroes and he were to take a moment with me. I just try to put myself in their shoes.
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