WWE Raw: M.V.P. & Kingston deliver a tremendous segment

Many fans have been clamoring for a more serious Kofi Kingston, particularly on promos, as he reasserts himself as a singles wrestler.

There have been some serious moments for Kingston in recent weeks, but some of it is offset by the constant dancing and overly positive nature of his character.

Last night’s backstage segment between Kingston & M.V.P. may be the defining turning point to a serious Kingston.

Kingston, with M.V.P., delivered a tremendous segment based on their real-life experiences and relationship.

How tremendous? Social media seems to have universal praise for the segment, including from Bully Ray on the wrestler’s side and a slew of wrestling journalists and outlets, including this site, Fightful.com, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com, Cageside Seats, and Wrestle Ops, among others.

M.V.P. approached Kingston as he & Xavier Woods were about to enter their locker room after losing the tag team turmoil match earlier in the night. When alone, M.V.P. really showed why he has been (no pun intended) a M.V.P. of Monday Nights for over a year.

He told Kingston he was so proud of seeing him win the WWE Championship that he cried tears of joy (below, with the late Shad Gaspard) and mentioned their connection going back coming up together in Deep South Wrestling, saying Kingston was like a little brother to him.

He then added seeing Kingston celebrate with his family in the ring still gives him goosebumps. What really added a layer of realism and gravitas was M.V.P. saying, “Seeing you with your sons in the ring…that’s what triggered me to want to come back here because finally, the WWE had a champion that I could immediately relate to, that I could be proud of.”

He added KofiMania was everything, but it abruptly ended. M.V.P. added insult by saying it happened to Kingston because Kingston isn’t like Bobby Lashley. He continued, telling Kingston he thought he saw the same Kingston last week that could be WWE Champion again, but Kingston did what?

He shook Drew McIntyre’s hand after their match, which indicated to M.V.P. that Kingston is “comfortable” with losing. Ouch.

M.V.P. then stated that KofiMania ended because Kingston let it end, but really set it off by saying he knows that Kingston likes to be in the back joking, shucking, and jiving with his friends.

This rightfully drew the ire of Kingston, and I’ll get back to this part in a moment.

Kingston, as serious as we’ve seen him, looked M.V.P. right in the eyes and told him to watch his mouth and that M.V.P. was the last person he wanted advice from. He reiterated that his friends and family are what provide him the motivation to be a professional wrestler.

Then, channeling what M.V.P. said and turning it on him a bit, Kingston said there is a little kid somewhere out there watching him “and believing in themselves because of me. That’s why I do this.” He then incredulously asked if WWE Champion Bobby Lashley does this for money.

M.V.P. immediately replied no, “Bobby Lashley fights for the WWE Championship and the honor, prestige, and accouterments that go with it,” before walking away as Kingston glared.

Here’s the segment in its full glory.

The realism to this segment is what added stakes and drama to their interaction. Their connection, going back almost 20 years now, really gives the feeling of two, if not friends, then at least people who are very familiar with each other.

To steal a phrase, you can’t teach that.

M.V.P. laid it on thick in the beginning, almost as if he was recruiting Kingston. Instead, it seemed like M.V.P. was trying to motivate Kingston to once again become WWE Champion.

Perhaps a break between M.V.P. & Lashley is coming, one that has been subtly hinted at over several weeks?

Now, the one area that’s problematic yet still works in this scenario is M.V.P. invoking “shucking and jiving,” terms historically used during Jim Crow minstrelsy shows and to denigrate Black people for catering to the stereotypical whims of White people’s entertainment.

It definitely signals the respectability politics discussion, a debate within many groups of color about how to best represent and act in a White supremacist society. On one end, some Black people think it’s best to strive to look and act as “respectable” as possible, which often translates to “be as White as possible without scaring White people.”

The other end of the spectrum argues that regardless, people should be able to act and present however they feel and catering to the physical and psychological needs of White people regarding White supremacy and the resultant racism is just another weapon used to divide folks and maintain supremacy through oppression.

Here’s why it kind of works even with all of the problematics: the people involved not only represent both poles, but they delivered their lines in this segment with conviction.

Even though they came up together in Deep South Wrestling, their pasts are vastly different. Many know that M.V.P. spent time incarcerated, and it’s undeniable that being incarcerated affects one’s outlook and actions.

Kingston’s found most success as a happy-go-lucky, “Power of Positivity” character so for him, why would that be bad and/or should he change? The thing is, the Kingston character may not view what he does as shucking and jiving, and really, that’s in the eye of the beholder.

Kingston’s rightful indignation at being accused of such was the perfect response. For most Black people (and take that with a grain of salt from me, an Asian, who is basing this off of what he’s read, heard, and seen in his interactions with his Black friends and colleagues), being told that you’re shucking and jiving or an “Uncle Tom” is one of the more insidious insults to receive, especially from another Black person.

When that person is someone you go way back with? That has to hurt even more.

Does Kingston’s response also indicate a more serious, possible heel Kingston coming?

Whatever the case, especially with his victory over Riddle later in the show, it seems like Kingston is being built to be Lashley’s challenger after Hell in a Cell (yes, I am choosing Lashley to retain). I’m definitely excited if that’s the case.

What I’m wondering is if this is the case, could we possibly see M.V.P. turn on Lashley to side with Kingston, who leaves Woods for M.V.P.’s presence? Would a Kingston-M.V.P. duo be better than the Lashley-M.V.P. duo?

I don’t know, but what I do know is I’m very, very interested to see where this goes, hoping of course that WWE follows up on this segment next week and the following weeks.

Last thing, and a little side note, really: whatever they’re doing with this Mustafa Ali-Mansoor storyline, keep at it. It’s a mid-card angle that definitely has potential.