Kofi Kingston stands out as one of WWE’s most electrifying high-flyers, blending Jamaican flair with Ghanaian roots to become a fan favorite and champion. He’s powered through nearly two decades in WWE, stacking titles and creating iconic moments like his wild Royal Rumble saves.
Kofi Kingston’s Biography
| Attribute | Details |
| Full Name | Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah |
| Ring Name/Nickname | Kofi Kingston (“The Dreadlocked Dynamo”) |
| Date of Birth | August 14, 1981 |
| Age | 44 years |
| Birthplace | Kumasi, Ghana |
| Religion | N/A |
| Nationality | Ghanaian-American |
| Height | 6’0″ (183 cm) |
| Weight | 212 lbs (96 kg) |
| WWE Debut | January 22, 2008 (ECW) |
| Trained By | Chaotic Wrestling, NWA New England |
| Net Worth | ~$3-5 million |
| Contract | Multi-year deal re-signed 2025 |
| Salary | ~$500,000 base annually |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Kori Campfield |
| Children | 3 (Khi Sarkodie, Orion Kingsley, Lotus) |
| Instagram Profile | @truekofi |
Kofi keeps his family life private but shares glimpses on social media. He balances wrestling demands with dad duties in Asheville, NC. His vegan lifestyle since 2020 shows his focus on health amid the grind.
Early Career
Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah trained in late 2005 and debuted in 2006 for Chaotic Wrestling, losing to Evan Siks for the PWF Mayhem Heavyweight Championship. He wrestled New England indies like NWA New England (in Barry Ace’s A-List), Millennium Wrestling Federation, NECW, EWA, building high-flying skills as a Jamaican gimmick.
In September 2006, WWE signed him to developmental, sending him to Deep South Wrestling and OVW, where he teamed as Commonwealth Connection with Harry Smith. Dark matches against Haas and Murdoch prepped him for TV.
Professional Wrestling Career
Kofi burst onto WWE’s ECW in 2008, beating locals before jumping to Raw and snagging his first Intercontinental title from Chris Jericho at Night of Champions, becoming WWE’s first African-born champ. He added US titles thrice, tagged with CM Punk, Evan Bourne, R-Truth early on.
The 2014 New Day formation with Big E and Xavier Woods exploded his fame—16 tag reigns total, including 6 Raw and 6 SmackDown team titles. His 2019 WrestleMania 35 miracle run topped Daniel Bryan for WWE Championship, marking him as 30th Triple Crown and Grand Slam champ.
Post-title, New Day kept dominating tags, hitting NXT Tag gold in 2022 for Tag Team Triple Crown status. In 2025, he re-signed multi-year; 2026 sees him active on Raw, losing to Je’Von Evans Feb 23 with Offset interference, still chasing gold at 44.
Wife
Kofi married Kori Campfield in September 2010 after meeting pre-WWE fame. They have three kids: son Khi (b. 2013), son Orion (b. 2016), daughter Lotus. Family supports his career from North Carolina base, with Kori handling home front during tours.
Kofi Kingston’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Kofi’s net worth sits around $3-5 million estimates. Wrestling pay, merch from New Day unicorn era, and media deals built it steadily since 2006 developmental contract. No massive spikes, but consistent titles keep merch hot.
Contract
Kofi re-signed a multi-year deal with WWE in October 2025, matching Xavier Woods’ terms per reports. Exact length, guarantees undisclosed—standard for vets. Keeps him on Raw with New Day through at least 2027, focusing tag division.
Salary
Kofi’s base salary hovers at $500,000 yearly from his WWE contract, unchanged publicly since 2023 reports. PPV bonuses, house show cuts, and royalties boost it to $800k-$1M annually. New Day merch like Booty-O cereal and unicorn horns add six figures, especially post-WrestleMania spikes. As 18-year vet, he negotiates well without top-star pay like Cena’s millions.
Career Earnings
| Year Range | Est. Earnings | Key Sources |
| 2006-2009 (Dev/ECW Debut) | $100k-$200k | Developmental pay, first titles |
| 2010-2013 (Midcard Peaks) | $500k-$800k | IC/US reigns, tags w/ Bourne/Truth |
| 2014-2018 (New Day Rise) | $2M+ | Record tag reign, heel/face turns |
| 2019 (WWE Champ) | $1.5M | Mania win, Kofimania merch boom |
| 2020-2023 (Tag Dominance) | $3M+ | Multi-brand tags, NXT gold |
| 2024-2026 (Raw Heel Turn) | $2M+ | New deal, WM41 titles, feuds |
| Career Total Est. | $10M+ | Incl. endorsements, media |
Endorsements
Kofi lands deals via New Day positivity—past Booty-O cereal promo, unicorn merch tie-ins. Booking agents note corporate events, brand collabs open; no major 2026 sponsors public like Nike or energy drinks. Media like Scooby-Doo voice, Kickin’ It guest spots add side cash. Fan events, autographs via WWE shop keep steady flow without flashy partnerships.
Notable Opponents & Achievements
| Category | Details |
| Key Opponents | Daniel Bryan (WM35 WWE Title win), Chris Jericho (1st IC 2008), CM Punk (World Tag 2008), The Usos (tag wars), Je’Von Evans (2026 loss w/ Offset), AJ Styles/Dragon Lee (2026 tag loss), Otis (2024 win) |
| Championships | 1x WWE Champion (WM35); 4x IC; 3x US; 16x Tag Team (6 Raw, 6 SD, 1 World, 2 NXT, 1 w/Bourne/Truth) |
| Milestones | 1st African-born WWE world champ; 30th Triple Crown; 20th Grand Slam; Tag Team Triple Crown; 18 yrs WWE (2026) |
FAQs
1. What is Kofi Kingston’s real name and background?
Kofi Kingston’s real name is Kofi Nahaje Sarkodie-Mensah. Born on August 14, 1981, in Kumasi, Ghana, he moved to the United States at a young age and grew up near Boston, Massachusetts, after graduating from Boston College.
2. When did Kofi Kingston debut in WWE?
Kofi Kingston debuted in WWE on January 22, 2008, on the ECW brand as a Jamaican wrestler, defeating local competitor David Owen. He was drafted to Raw later that year and quickly rose to prominence.
3. What is Kofi Kingston’s height and weight?
Kofi Kingston stands at 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighs 212 pounds. These measurements contribute to his agile, high-flying wrestling style that has defined much of his career.
4. What is Kofi Kingston’s signature move?
Kofi Kingston’s signature finishing move is Trouble in Paradise, a spinning roundhouse kick to the opponent’s head. He also uses high-flying maneuvers like springboard attacks effectively in matches.
5. How many championships has Kofi Kingston won in WWE?
Kofi Kingston has won 24 championships in WWE, including one WWE Championship, four Intercontinental Championships, three United States Championships, and a record 16 tag team titles. This makes him a Triple Crown and Grand Slam Champion.
6. What is The New Day, and what role does Kofi Kingston play?
The New Day is a popular WWE stable formed in 2014 with Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods. Kingston has been a core member, contributing to their record-breaking tag team reigns and evolving from fan favorites to heels by late 2024.
7. Did Kofi Kingston ever win the WWE Championship?
Yes, Kofi Kingston won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 in 2019 by defeating Daniel Bryan. This victory made him the first African-born WWE world champion and capped the “KofiMania” storyline fueled by fan support.
8. What are Kofi Kingston’s Royal Rumble highlights?
Kofi Kingston is famous for creative eliminations avoids in Royal Rumble matches, like riding on other wrestlers or turning into a human wrecking ball. He has never won the match but holds a record for such athletic feats.
9. Has Kofi Kingston won tag team titles outside The New Day?
Yes, before The New Day, Kofi Kingston won the World Tag Team Championship with CM Punk in 2008, WWE Tag Team Championship with Evan Bourne as Air Boom in 2011, and with R-Truth. These added to his early career success.
10. What is Kofi Kingston’s current WWE brand status?
As of the 2023 WWE Draft, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were drafted to the Raw brand as part of The New Day. In December 2024, tensions led to a heel turn where they ousted Big E during the group’s 10-year anniversary.