Kofi Kingston
My mom worked her way all the way up; she has a doctorate in anthropology. Imagine doing that while having three kids. It's just amazing. She provided the best possible example in terms of chasing your dreams.Collection: Amazing
Do everything in your power to make sure you achieve your dreams.Collection: Dreams
A lot of people talk about video games as something nerds do. But we look at it as a way to connect with people. It's something that's positive, that brings people together.Collection: Positive
Getting to play with your friends and trash talk. That's some of the best parts of gaming for me. It's like having recess in elementary school.
We've said it since the beginning of time: The philosophy of The New Day has always been to lift your brother up.
I've had a lot of starts and stops as far as my career is concerned, but I think what I am able to do is to put things into perspective.
All I know is that every moment we've had as The New Day has been amazing. Just awesome.
It's truly a new day ever since we graced the WWE Universe with our presence. Every time we come out there, you see us being funny, having fun, entertaining people and, of course, preaching the power of positivity. That's what New Day is all about.
I've been on the other side where I know that a bad day at WWE beats the best day at Staples.
It took me 11 years to get a shot at the WWE championship; not just to win it, but just to get a shot, but luckily I was able to capitalize on that and become WWE champion, but if I had quit I wouldn't have been in that position.
I am living proof that if you work hard enough, you will be able to achieve anything and I take a lot of pride in what I have achieved.
Making people believe they can do great things, that's an instant motivator.
You have to have the ability to adapt. That's probably the single most important quality you need to have as a WWE Superstar.
My first, what, five, six years I was never given a microphone. Now we have this New Day thing where we talk pretty much every single week. It allows me to open up a whole different side, so I just think it's really important to be able to adapt.
We're always thinking of different things to be on the cutting edge of what's entertaining or what's hot on Twitter or social media or even society in general. I've had little goals here and there. But that's the main goal. Always changing, always be prepared to adapt.
I think my goal has always been to remain entertaining. Above all else, remain entertaining.
I collect swords, but I'm not really a swordsman.
My mom means everything to me. She has been such an inspiration in terms of just leading by example. Growing up, I never got into any trouble because I never wanted to upset her - because she did everything in her power for me to have a great childhood.
Even coming from Ghana to the United States, my mom and dad did so much to provide a better life for their kids. It was such a huge sacrifice; leaving your entire family - and we have a huge family - leaving them to come to America and have a better life for their kids.
My mom set a great example, and I love her.
How many African American champions have there been over the course of WWE's history? It's something that was the elephant in the room. Nobody wanted to talk about it, but it was important for us to address it.
We always talk about how important representation is. It's so important to see someone that looks like you - whether you're African American, Asian, Indian or whatever your background is - doing incredible things. It's just motivation to go out there and do incredible things yourself.
We're really greedy when it comes to titles. We want every championship - the women's title included.
Anybody out there who has had a situation where they've had to struggle - when they want something so badly, but they can't quite get it - I am living and breathing proof that if you endure, if you push yourself, if you strive to be your best, no matter what, if you keep on working hard, then good things can happen.
The New Day is all about the group, and that's the way it's gonna be... We ain't going nowhere but to the top. And if we going to the top, we're going together.
The crowd and the energy is incredible. I love going to Saudi Arabia because the energy is just awesome.
I get inspired from all different kinds of places - cartoons, comic books, movies and things like that.
As far as the community involvement is concerned, I don't necessarily think that being a babyface or being a heel really affects that because, at the end of the day, people know that we're entertainers. We're very forward about that.
Any type of Royal Rumble or battle royal I always look forward to because I usually get to do some pretty cool things.
I think at WrestleMania you definitely want a singles match and not have to share the spotlight with other guys.
I was never going to be the one to get recognition because of my looks.
There are guys who are way taller than me, weigh a lot more than me, are stronger than me, not faster than me but all other aspects people get recognized and looked at and opportunities based on how they look. I've been fighting that battle my entire lifetime.
It's so important to have representation for all races on TV. All people, from all walks of life. So when other people look at the television screen they can see and identify with that person doing great things.
I want to be the true champion of the people, and I take a lot of pride in having that role.
People are entitled to their own opinion as far as what a WWE Champion should be, but the fact is that I am WWE Champion and that's a fact. It is what it is.
It's really all about getting the people to believe in you and the harder you work, the better you become.
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.
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.
Fox is huge and for WWE to be on Fox, it's an honor for us to be there.
A lot of people always say, 'Oh, people down there in NXT' or 'Down there' as if it's... yeah, it's like a farming system for WWE, but they've done such a great job over the years making their own brand.
Bray Wyatt is like seven feet tall and seven feet wide.
The Wyatts in general are just really entertaining, in a strange type of way.
Don't let the reasons why you don't accomplish your dreams be because of you or a decision that you made. Do everything that you can possibly do to achieve that dream.
Anytime somebody shares a personal story with me during autograph signings and someone comes up to me and shakes my hand and says thank you and I'm just like, wow. The fact that I can have an influence over somebody; it is heartwarming, it is the goal.
There's a lot of people who think that I am happy all the time.
You literally can't do any more than your best so that was always my attitude and that is still my attitude, which is to go out there and give it my best every single night.
I know how it feels to sit on the sideline and watch a spot that is supposed to be yours taken.
Anything is possible for anybody if they work hard enough.
It's always important for people to be able to watch WWE, especially because it's a global product, it's important for people all over the world to be able to look at the screen and see somebody who looks like them doing great things. And in turn, that inspires them to do great things.
I take a lot of pride being a beacon of hope for people who haven't achieved what they wanted to achieve even though they've had to wait a very long time to do it.