I disagree. Big E was a very good ace champ for NXT, but he didn't really have the charisma nor the mic skills he's got right now. He is able to be a goof as well as he's able to be serious, as he's shown in the past couple of years.
Hell, Kofi himself wasn't stripped away of any of his New Day characteristics, and he's still doing great. He still feels like Kofi, and he's getting a legit strong title run.