- Seeing something in actuality is very different
than seeing something in theory, you know,
so seeing Booker T have
such an amazing career was motivational for me,
because it just gives you a visual confirmation
and affirmation that you too can do it,
because you've seen it done.
- We as African Americans, we do support the show,
we do watch it, and we do need our heroes,
to be able to look up to.
- We all try to live and leave a legacy of something
that is very endearing to our heart,
and for me, it is becoming
the first black world heavyweight champion.
[cheers and applause]
- We have been linked in history
because of our color being black wrestlers.
Kofi is also putting bricks in a building
of the experience of the African-American wrestlers.
I made sure I put my two cents in
to hopefully make a difference in the outcome,
you know, for Kofi Kingston.
And damn it, I ain't leaving without saying KofiMania.
[cheers and applause]
[crowd chanting "Kofi! Kofi!"]
- There he is, good, sir.
- How are you, man? - What up dog?
- Good to see you, man. - Yeah, yeah, man.
I love still being around the young guys
and being able to draw that energy, you know, from them,
and I've tried to give back where I can.
You've done--you've put the work in, 11 years?
- 11 years, a little over 11 years.
Here we are.
- You know, paving that, you know, road,
putting in the carpentry work.
- Yeah, man.
- You know, that means a lot, man, seriously.
- Well, I mean, I feel like you paved the way, 'cause you--
I'm just saying, like, I used to watch you, you know,
in middle school and high school,
I still say King Booker is one of my
favorite characters ever.
And the thing that we did in the ring
was a bucket list thing for me.
- I can't believe King Booker is here.
- Doth our eyes deceive us?
Isn't he the master of the spin-a-Rooney
and our king?
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome to the Five Timers Championship Club.
- Ah, spin-a-Rooney.
- He's still got it.
- To be in there, like, you can see, like, under--
under these pancakes sleeves,
you can see a lot of goose bumps, you know,
but I just thought you were one of the most
entertaining characters.
- I tried my best, man,
to pave the way and think about you guys coming up.
all: One, two, three!
- Kofi did it! Kofi did it!
Kofi is champion! - Ha-ha!
- How was that moment, though, man?
How was that moment winning, man?
- Oh, it was unbelievably, man.
So, like, for me to actually
become WWE champion was, like,
a legitimate childhood dream come true.
So that happened, and then before I knew it,
Woods and E were on me, and I'm like, "Oh, my God.
Like, we did this." You know what I'm saying?
With all the hard work that we put in this new day,
like, this is the culmination.
And then all of a sudden, the title was in my hands.
And then all of a sudden, it was real,
then I'm on their shoulders. I'm, like,
this is the greatest moment of my career.
Then all of a sudden, my kids were in there,
you know, and I'm, like, this is the greatest moment.
And then my little son is jumping up on
the second rope and holding the T shirt and throwing it out.
And I'm just like, my God. Like, I can't--
sometimes I still can't believe that this is real.
♪ ♪
- Unlike you, I didn't-- I never had any dreams,
you know, when I was a kid or when I became,
you know, a professional wrestler.
I just thought that was cool, you know?
And then, you know, everything started happening for me,
and then when it happened,
I still did not know how to accept it.
♪ ♪
- We've got a new champion. Oh, my God.
Booker T is the world champion.
they wanted me to win, man. they partied for me;
you know, they gave me their stamp of approval that,
hey, we appreciate all the work.
That's what's really cool about my life,
and my career right now is, I go to these places,
and people come up to me and say how much I changed
their lives and how much I've been a part of their lives.
Right there. There it is.
- You're also five-time world heavyweight...
- Five-time, five-time... - World heavyweight champion.
I love your work. - Thanks, man.
It's such an awesome feeling, so, man,
I'm proud of you.
- Thank you, man. - I'm proud of you.
That's--that's as high as I can say it, man.
I'm proud of you, bro.
- I want Kofi to know
that history is not going anywhere,
that he'll live forever, that he's immortal now.
- ♪ Now it's time for me to find ♪
♪ This place I call home ♪
- It's all about, you know, what we can do, you know
as a people, and Kofi, you know, he did it.
I'm glad to see it, and I'm glad to be a part of perhaps,
you know, him making it to that next level.
♪ ♪
- Seeing something in actuality is very different
than seeing something in theory, you know,
so seeing Booker T have
such an amazing career was motivational for me,
because it just gives you a visual confirmation
and affirmation that you too can do it,
because you've seen it done.
♪ ♪
- We as African Americans, we do support the show,
we do watch it, and we do need our heroes,
to be able to look up to.
- We all try to live and leave a legacy of something
that is very endearing to our heart,
and for me, it is becoming
the first black world heavyweight champion.
[cheers and applause]
- We have been linked in history
because of our color being black wrestlers.
Kofi is also putting bricks in a building
of the experience of the African-American wrestlers.
I made sure I put my two cents in
to hopefully make a difference in the outcome,
you know, for Kofi Kingston.
And damn it, I ain't leaving without saying KofiMania.
[cheers and applause]
[crowd chanting "Kofi! Kofi!"]
- There he is, good, sir.
- How are you, man? - What up dog?
- Good to see you, man. - Yeah, yeah, man.
I love still being around the young guys
and being able to draw that energy, you know, from them,
and I've tried to give back where I can.
You've done--you've put the work in, 11 years?
- 11 years, a little over 11 years.
Here we are.
- You know, paving that, you know, road,
putting in the carpentry work.
- Yeah, man.
- You know, that means a lot, man, seriously.
- Well, I mean, I feel like you paved the way, 'cause you--
I'm just saying, like, I used to watch you, you know,
in middle school and high school,
I still say King Booker is one of my
favorite characters ever.
And the thing that we did in the ring
was a bucket list thing for me.
- I can't believe King Booker is here.
- Doth our eyes deceive us?
Isn't he the master of the spin-a-Rooney
and our king?
[cheers and applause]
- Welcome to the Five Timers Championship Club.
- Ah, spin-a-Rooney.
- He's still got it.
- To be in there, like, you can see, like, under--
under these pancakes sleeves,
you can see a lot of goose bumps, you know,
but I just thought you were one of the most
entertaining characters.
- I tried my best, man,
to pave the way and think about you guys coming up.
all: One, two, three!
- Kofi did it! Kofi did it!
Kofi is champion! - Ha-ha!
- How was that moment, though, man?
How was that moment winning, man?
- Oh, it was unbelievably, man.
So, like, for me to actually become WWE champion was, like,
a legitimate childhood dream come true.
So that happened, and then before I knew it,
Woods and E were on me, and I'm like, "Oh, my God.
Like, we did this." You know what I'm saying?
With all the hard work that we put in this new day,
like, this is th
And then all of a sudden, the title was in my hands.
And then all of a sudden, it was real,
then I'm on their shoulders. I'm, like,
this is the greatest moment of my career.
Then all of a sudden, my kids were in there,
you know, and I'm, like, this is the greatest moment.
And then my little son is jumping up on
the second rope and holding the T shirt and throwing it out.
And I'm just like, my God. Like, I can't--
sometimes I still can't believe that this is real.
♪ ♪
- Unlike you, I didn't-- I never had any dreams,
you know, when I was a kid or when I became,
you know, a professional wrestler.
I just thought that was cool, you know?
And then, you know, everything started happening for me,
and then when it happened,
I still did not know how to accept it.
♪ ♪
- We've got a new champion. Oh, my God.
Booker T is the world champion.
they wanted me to win, man. they partied for me;
you know, they gave me their stamp of approval that,
hey, we appreciate all the work.
That's what's really cool about my life,
and my career right now is, I go to these places,
and people come up to me and say how much I changed
their lives and how much I've been a part of their lives.
Right there. There it is.
- You're also five-time world heavyweight...
- Five-time, five-time... - World heavyweight champion.
I love your work. - Thanks, man.
It's such an awesome feeling, so, man,
I'm proud of you.
- Thank you, man. - I'm proud of you.
That's--that's as high as I can say it, man.
I'm proud of you, bro.
- I want Kofi to know
that history is not going anywhere,
that he'll live forever, that he's immortal now.
- ♪ Now it's time for me to find ♪
♪ This place I call home ♪
as a people, and Kofi, you know, he did it.
I'm glad to see it, and I'm glad to be a part of perhaps,
you know, him making it to that next level.
♪ ♪