Summer shoving

The biggest party of the summer is almost upon us!

So we at skysports.com caught up with Raw Superstar, Kofi Kingston, to get the inside track on WWE's next pay-per view, SummerSlam, which you can see live on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743).

The three-time Intercontinental Champion told us what to expect at the August extravaganza, and explained what moment from the event's history stands out for him.

Kingston also reminisced on July's pulsating Money in The Bank show, which saw CM Punk win the WWE title, and revealed how excited he is now that Triple H has superseded Vince McMahon as WWE chairman.

In a comprehensive interview, the Ghanaian dynamo also told us the inspiration behind his effervescent ring attire and spectacular move-set; who his dream tag-team partner would be; and why he will be glued to next year's London Olympics...

skysports.com: SummerSlam takes place on Sunday August 14. Will you be involved and who would you like to face?

KOFI KINGSTON: I don't know whether I will be involved as yet but I really hope I am because the show is shaping up to be awesome. CM Punk seems to be back in the WWE and looks like he may go head-to-head with the "other" WWE Champion, John Cena, who won the title from Rey Mysterio on Raw, so we may see who the true champion is. I don't know whether they will face each other at SummerSlam or not but it would be awesome if they did. As for me, I don't mind who I face, though I'd quite like to go up against Dolph Ziggler and try to get my United States Championship back. We'll just have to watch and see, but it's always a great show and this year will be no different.

skysports.com: What are your favourite memories from past SummerSlams?

KK: I look back to last year when I was facing Ziggler for the Intercontinental Championship. We got off to having a great match and then the Nexus, who were really hot back then, came out and destroyed our match and turned it into a no-contest. They took a great match away from the people but I think it was a cool thing to be a part of because everyone was talking about it. It was very unique and being on that stage was definitely one of my favourite moments.

skysports.com: How shocked was the WWE locker room when CM Punk won the WWE Title from John Cena at Money in the Bank - and then left the company?

KK: That whole night was amazing. I got to watch that match and I get goosebumps just thinking about it now. The crowd in Chicago was just electric, very reminiscent of when I watched The Rock face Hulk Hogan; people were getting so excited. It was just a phenomenal match, right down until the very end when Alberto Del Rio tried to cash in his Money in the Bank briefcase and CM Punk thwarted him, took off through the crowd - and was gone! He left his stuff in the locker room and no-one knew what had happened or where he had gone. There was a feeling amongst all of us of 'What the heck is going on? What is going to happen at Raw the next night?' It was a night I'll never forget.

skysports.com: You competed in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Do you still get nervous in contests like that and do you feel under pressure to come up with new moves?

KK: I don't really put pressure on myself to come up with moves, they really come to me. There are always a lot of nerves with those kind of matches because you never really know what's going to happen; you can't really plan for what way the ladder might fall. But the nerves are magnified, perhaps, because really it's a chance to really become WWE Champion, as everyone who has cashed in that briefcase has become a world champion. There are nerves but they are good nerves.

skysports.com: Triple H recently returned and took over from Vince McMahon as chairman of the WWE. Are you and the other Superstars looking forward to an exciting new time?

KK: I think so. It's going to be interesting because we don't know what he has in store. He is definitely going to shake things up and I think it will be for the better. Triple H is a guy who comes from the Attitude Era where people were edgy and did a lot of controversial things, so hopefully he can bring that to Raw and SmackDown. I definitely think good things are going to happen for the audience. One of the first moves Triple H made was to bring the legendary Jim Ross back into the Raw commentary booth. I'm really excited that he will be calling my matches because he can immortalise you with a quote. His voice is so distinctive and, in my opinion, he is the greatest announcer of all time. Also, to have the chance to pick his brains and ask his opinion on things, I think it will be terrific for all the young guys, like myself.

skysports.com: Since being drafted back to Raw, you have mainly faced Dolph Ziggler and Alberto Del Rio. But who else are you looking forward to battling in the coming months?

KK: I wouldn't mind tussling with R-Truth. A lot of people come up to me and say 'What's up, R-Truth?' because they think we look similar. So it would be good if we were in the ring at the same time so that people could see that we are two different people. There are a lot of other stars on the roster that I'd like to face, but we'll see what time brings.

skysports.com: You have become famous for your Boom Drop manoeuvre and the unique clap that you do before it. Where did you come up with those ideas?

KK: The Thunder Clap started because I played a Jamaican character and the reggae dance they do involves the Thunder Clap. As far as the Boom Drop is concerned, when I was wrestling on the independent circuit there was a gentleman named Craig Stratton who used to do the double leg drop. We always used to laugh at it and so when I got signed to the WWE, it was something that I took on as a tribute to him. The theatrics and the high knees have been gradually added, and it's been a cool process to see my repertoire evolve and people get behind it.

skysports.com: Your ring attire is quite colourful and vibrant, too. Do you design it yourself?

KK: I design all my ring gear. I'm a pretty big comic-book fan so a lot of my attire has to do with that. Right now I'm wearing yellow and black, which are the colours of the Sinestro Corps and their leader, Thaal Sinestro, who is the arch nemesis of the Green Lantern. Meanwhile, a couple of months ago I had some gear based on Slimer, the green ghost from Ghostbusters. I take pride in coming up with bright colours and I'm always trying to keep my attire innovative and fresh.

skysports.com: You have been a tag-team champion before with CM Punk, but who would your dream partner be?

KK: There is so much talent on the Raw roster but I guess I would have to say Evan Bourne. We're both dynamic high-flyers but at the same time we do a lot of different things. I think the combination of both of our skills would really entertain the WWE Universe.

skysports.com: In Britain we are getting ready for the 2012 Olympics in London. Will you be watching and do you have any favourite events?

KK: I'll definitely be watching. I really like track and field and it will be interesting to see if Usain Bolt has still got it. In the last Olympics he really shocked everybody with his times and the way he destroyed the rest of his competitors. It always amazes me when people set world records, even if it's only by a hundredth of a second. The fact that we are still evolving, becoming better as human beings and getting more out of our bodies is fantastic. Watching people like Bolt is like watching evolution in front of your eyes. I never really enjoyed athletics at high school; I loved playing football but I boycotted running. But I started track and field after I graduated to keep my fitness up and I now have a new-found respect for the athletes and all the work that they put into their sport.

skysports.com: And finally, just tell all our fans why they should buy SummerSlam?

KK: SummerSlam is probably only behind WrestleMania in importance to the WWE Superstars. We really build it up as a huge deal and it is a superb way to round off the summer before kids start going back to school and people start going back to work. It's a great way to let out all your emotions and let yourself be entertained. It's going to be an awesome show and I'd urge all the fans not to miss it.

BOOKING DETAILS

WWE SummerSlam will be live on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) and Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 753) on Sunday August 14, 2011 at 1am (Monday morning).

WWE SummerSlam will be repeated on Sky Sports Box Office (channel 743) - but NOT on Sky Sports HD Box Office (channel 753) - between 9am on Monday August 15 and midnight on Saturday August 20. Repeat shows will last three hours.

The event is priced at £14.95 for UK customers, €21.95 for customers in the Republic of Ireland.

You will be able to book WWE SummerSlam online a few days before the event. Simply visit www.sky.com/orderboxoffice and follow the instructions.

You can also order WWE SummerSlam by pressing the Box Office button on your remote in the week before the show. Select 'sports & events' and follow the on-screen instructions.

Viewers can also call 08442 410888 to book WWE SummerSlam. (There may be an additional charge for telephone bookings).

Cable customers should contact their local cable operator.

Sky Box Office terms and conditions apply.