Exclusive: MVP Talks About Famous Video Of Him And Shad Gaspard Celebrating Kofi Kingston’s WWE Title Win

It is one of the most beloved viral videos in WWE history. It is also one tinged with an extreme sense of loss. MVP and the late, great Hall of Famer Shad Gaspard celebrating Kofi Kingston’s WWE Title win at WrestleMania 35.

The video, for those who haven’t seen it, shows a candid moment shared between the two friends and WWE superstars as the bell rings on Kofi’s historic victory over Daniel Bryan.

In the aftermath of Shad’s tragic, untimely death in May 2020, the video once again was shared countless times in tribute to the former Cryme Tyme member’s memory.

This moment will always be so beautiful. Shad Gaspard and MVP getting emotional as Kofi Kingston won the WWE Championship ❤️ pic.twitter.com/vDhtReBGqC

— Wrestling Pics & Clips (@WrestleClips) January 24, 2023

With the arrival of WrestleMania season this week, the video has once again been doing the rounds.

MVP wasn’t employed with WWE at the time of KofiMania back in 2019, but is now firmly entrenched in the promotion’s storylines. Previously serving as the manager of The Hurt Business and two time Bobby Lashley, the former United States Champion is now managing Nigerian giant Omos.

With his charge heading into a colossal collision with Brock Lesnar at WrestleMania 39 tonight, MVP spoke exclusively to SPORF ahead of WWE’s biggest weekend of the year about that moment with Shad.

It turns out, the former WWE Tag Team champion wasn’t all too impressed with Shad when the video was initially shared. Although when he realised how much the video meant to so many fans, MVP understood why his friend had chosen to post it.

“Well initially when I saw Shad had posted that I was very angry with him for doing it, because it was a private moment. But when I saw the reaction so many people had to seeing the emotional reaction we had, it changed my opinion about it.

“I’ve known Kofi Kingston since he began. We were in developmental together. I told him a long time ago that he was going to be a star. He’s an amazing human being. A great husband, a great father and a tremendously skilled professional wrestler.

“To see someone who looked like Kofi, with his accolades, become WWE Champion was a huge point of pride for myself and lots of people of colour.

“It was a moment to see this African born, dreadlock wearing young man who is such a tremendous human being hold that title. There are lots of little kids who look like him. Representation matters and he’s not the biggest guy or the most muscular but his talent and conviction led him to the top.”

Kofi’s reign may have been unceremoniously ended six months later in less than 10 seconds by Brock Lesnar, but his title win lives long in the memory. And thanks to the late, great Shad Gaspard, we have an extra moment to make one of the most poignant points in WWE memory even greater.

WWE WrestleMania 39 is available to stream on the WWE Network

Featured Image Credit: Shad Gaspard/Twitter