In an interview with TheSun.co.uk, WWE Raw star Kofi Kingston was asked in a UK Sun interview says he was one of the last people to find out that he’d be feuding with Randy Orton. “This whole development has been pretty recent, I still don’t know what’s in store, except that there’ll be some high-quality matches. You pick a fight with Randy Orton, you have to step up to the plate. I’m going to step up and try to hit a home run.”

When asked about dropping the Jamaican gimmick, Kingston said WWE legends like Steve Austin, The Rock and Triple H all had gimmicks before they broke out. “I think this is about me making a transition, a progression to the next level.

Kingston also spoke about his dream opponent “There’s a few, but growing up, Shawn Michaels was a big influence on why I watched wrestling and why I got into wrestling … It would bring my career full circle, because he got me into wrestling, and now here I am pursuing my lifelong dream.”

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross

WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross has updated his JRsBarBQ.com blog – here are some highlights:

Ozzy & Sharon Hosting Raw: “I liked Ozzie and Sharon Osbourne’s role on Raw Monday night. It wasn’t overkill and it played to their strengths. Ozzie, honestly, pleasantly surprised me with his performance and his wife is really sharp which has likely saved Ozzie’s arse over the years. They are a prime example of where a “reality show” has helped their personas and made them relevant again to a new audience.

Sheamus’ Potential: “The continued evolution of Sheamus, the big Irish guy with no last name, is something that I’m enjoying. Hopefully, this build will be consistent and not rushed as it is obvious to me that Sheamus, the big Irish guy with no last name, has marketable potential. I like his size, physicality, and obvious toughness and he also has a strong work ethic and desire to not just be a player to be be a main event player. Sheamus is one of the most intriguing personas in WWE right now for my money. Can you imagine how fast Sheamus would progress if he were managed by a red hot, mouthpiece who was relevant in today’s marketplace?

Kofi Kingston’s Push: “Good to see Kofi Kingston, who’s now from his original homeland, continue to get his at bats. Kofi and Orton represent in ring youth which is a really good thing on which to build. Kofi’s next few months of TV exposure will be crucial in his development as fans seem to be curious as far Kofi can go. I happen to feel that Kofi has a distinctive upside. However, too many stubbed toes or false starts seem to be the kiss of death with many of today’s fans.

JR also talks about DX’s commentary on Raw, what the WWE Divas stand for, a recent phone call with Mene Gene Okerland and more. Visit JRsBarBQ.com to read the whole blog.

In a recent interview with SkySports, WWE Raw superstar Kofi Kingston explains why he’s dropped the Jamaican gimmick and is now billed from his real birthplace, Ghana, West Africa.

“I was actually born in Ghana, West Africa,” Kingston said. “As far as the whole Jamaican thing is actually concerned, growing up I actually loved everything about Jamaica. I loved the food, the culture, the laid-back attitude. When I came to the WWE initially I wanted to come out to something that attributed both my love for wrestling and the Jamaican heritage.

“I wanted to come out to something unique and something people had never seen before. But at a certain point it becomes about being real and true to yourself, as opposed to playing a character. You look at guys like Triple H. When he first started out he was Hunter Hearst Helmsley and before that he was Terra Ryzing – I don’t know if a lot of people know that.

“Stone Cold Steve Austin was Stunning Steve Austin before he became Stone Cold. The Rock
was Rocky Maivia before he became The Rock. Shawn Michaels was a Rocker before he became the Heartbreak Kid. I think in wrestling and the WWE you see a trend of guys who make transitions. And I think for me I’m in that transition stage into coming into my own.”

To read the full interview, visit SkySports.com.