In a surprising revelation, former WWE SmackDown head writer Brian James admitted that he initially pushed for Big E to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 instead of Kofi Kingston. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, James reflected on the decision and why he’s glad he was proven wrong.
“I was wrong. I didn’t realize how deep Kofi’s connection was with the fans. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong,” James confessed.
At the time, James believed Big E was the best choice to be WWE’s next major star. However, a member of his writing team convinced him otherwise, pointing out the emotional investment fans had in Kingston’s journey. The moment culminated in one of the most celebrated victories in WWE history, with Kingston defeating Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship.
While James initially questioned the decision, he now recognizes that it was the right move.
“Kofi won the title at WrestleMania, and nobody can ever take that away.”
Big E would go on to have his own championship moment years later, proving that both men were destined for greatness.