MJF would love to see the New Day become All Elite one day.
On May 2, the New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods departed from the WWE following a meeting with TKO higher-ups where they were apparently asked to take a 50% cut on their current contracts.
Two days later, the New Day would confirm their departure from the WWE and many talents from around the world have praised their work and hope they could work with Kofi and Austin Creed when the time does come.
While speaking with Ariel Helwani, MJF was asked the question on if he would love to see the New Day become All Elite.
“Yeah, absolutely. I don’t know what their contract situation is, but whenever they are legally allowed to come over, I think those are guys that would be incredible additions to the AEW roster. They are both crazy talented, massive stars, and guys who know their worth, which to me is the most impressive thing,”he said.
Many big names have been pushing for the New Day to sign with All Elite Wrestling when the time does come for their non-complete clauses to be officially over with.
The future of New Day may become one of the biggest stories in professional wrestling once the duo officially hits free agency.
According to a new report from Fightful Select via WrestleVotes Radio, there is reportedly a significant push within All Elite Wrestling from talent who want to see Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods brought into the company once they become available.
WrestleVotes Radio noted that a source within AEW was optimistic about the possibility of the duo at least appearing for a match in the promotion. In addition, several AEW talents have reportedly expressed interest in working with the former WWE tag team stars.
The report also mentioned that the team would likely need to compete under a different name if they leave WWE, as “New Day” remains intellectual property tied to the company.
As for individual ring names, Kofi Kingston is reportedly expected to keep using “Kofi,” while Xavier Woods would likely return to using the name “Austin Creed.”
At this time, there is no confirmation regarding whether the duo has officially signed anywhere or when free agency would begin. However, speculation surrounding their future is already generating strong interest across the wrestling industry.
WWE has been chopping down contracts and releasing talent over the last few weeks, and it’s brought a lot of shock, surprise, and anger out from many fans and wrestlers alike.
One of the biggest shocks was The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods departing from WWE after it felt like they’d be lifers with the company. Kofi was with WWE for nearly 20 years and was a locker room leader. But, they’re now gone.
Today, Fightful Select reported a lengthy piece that revealed details surrounding New Day’s WWE departure, and revealing that WWE was tasked with shedding “millions” in payroll.
“We’re told WWE was tasked with shedding “millions” in payroll over the last month or so, and cuts were made in order to make that a reality. This was met with heavy criticism within the industry, as the pay packages for TKO executives were revealed at the same time as record-high stocks. Most of the people within the industry we spoke to know that releases are a reality of WWE’s plans moving forward, but beyond that, asking talent to take a paycut of seven figures per year in many cases was heavily criticized and scoffed at.
We spoke to some within the talent and agent worlds who said that this round of cuts and paycuts will likely cause heavy changes in how talent negotiate contracts with TKO and WWE moving forward, noting that there is very little confidence that the life-changing, big money deals that a lot of wrestlers sign will see through the life of the deals.
Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp was told that a number of wrestlers in recent years were approached during overseas dates about new deals, some way earlier than they anticipated being offered new deals. Some there saw this as an approach to get talent to sign before their reps could take a look at things, but that was more of an opinion than anything. However, the day of the mass releases, WWE approached numerous talent and asked them to take pay cuts in order to remain with the company. Several of them that we heard about were given two days to make that decision. New Day’s Austin Creed and Kofi Kingston pretty quickly made the decision that they would rather leave the company. Despite the pay cut offered, the duo still left millions of dollars on the table over the next four years. In a similar situation, when Killer Kross was given his contract offer last year, he claimed he was given only one day to decide.
We have heard nothing to the rumors that Xavier Woods could return on a digital only deal, as that would prevent him from working for AEW, and effectively cost him millions of dollars over the next few years. As one would expect, a ton of names have pushed internally in All Elite Wrestling for New Day to be hired.
That led to another point of frustration among talent — New Day, Santos Escobar and others had just signed new deals with WWE in the last year, with some of them not even engaging All Elite Wrestling or other companies. Now with WWE cutting them and their pay, it effectively reduces their leverage. A number of reps noted that it wasn’t even smart from a competitive standpoint because you would think that WWE would want AEW to have to spend more money for talent.
No specific names were provided to Fightful regarding who accepted pay cuts, but the percentages shifted across a variety of what has been reported. For those asking why it was easy to find out that New Day were offered pay cuts compared to who actually took them, WWE moving them to the alumni section made it a whole lot easier to learn those stories. We’re told that a number of longtime veterans were asked, including some healing up from injuries.
One WWE source had been referenced by another outlet as saying they were disgusted that WWE didn’t publicly acknowledge New Day for their contributions. A WWE source said that they did communicate that glowingly privately, and that a joint statement was expected to be issued announcing the departure, and they have no clue why that didn’t end up being the case.”
We will continue to provide updates on more information on WWE cuts as information is gained.
If the reports about TKO pushing major talent to take 50 percent pay cuts are true, it is hard to see this as anything but a self-inflicted problem.
A recent report circulating online via PWInsider claims that a “pretty major” pushed star was asked to take a 50 percent cut and agreed to it. The name has not been confirmed, but the timing raised eyebrows, coming just before news involving Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made headlines. Even without full confirmation, the idea alone is enough to send a message.
@WrestleOps aggregation of PWInsider’s report
And it is not a good one.
WWE has spent years presenting itself as a booming global brand. Massive TV deals. The big leagues. Packed arenas. Record-setting revenue. We hear it nearly every single PLE, and especially during WrestleMania. That does not line up with cutting your talents salary in half.You cannot sell growth while quietly asking the roster to take less. Fans notices this immediately. That contradiction is impossible to ignore.
Inside the locker room, a move like that changes everything. Wrestlers are already covering travel, gear, training and often medical costs as independent contractors. Their pay is not just income, it is what keeps the job sustainable. It’s what helps them be presented as the superstars that they are. Slashing their pay that much is not just business. It is personal. Not every wrestler you see on television live the luxurious lives as the top of the card main event talent.There are no private jets, no larger than life tour buses, and no entourage of staff to help with daily necessities.
It also comes at a time when talent actually has options. All Elite Wrestling is established. International promotions are viable. The independent scene is active. This is not an era where WWE can assume everyone will just stay put. Look at Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for example.
We have seen what happens when leverage shifts. During the Monday Night Wars, competition drove salaries up because talent had choices. If pay cuts like this are real, WWE is handing that leverage right back.
The bigger issue is value. WWE is built on its performers. If those performers start to feel like they are being treated as replaceable, it shows. Morale sinks. Energy drops. Performances suffer. The product feels it. The fans feel it.
Maybe there is more to the story. Maybe nothing this extreme becomes policy. But even the perception of it is damaging. Does TKO care about the outrage on the internet? No. The WWE machine will continue on.
You cannot build a stronger company by telling your talent they are worth less.
The power should be with the talent, and hopefully more of them develop a spine like Kingston and Woods.
“Don’t forget to smile in any situation. As long as you are alive, there will be better things later, and there will be many.” — Eiichiro Oda
Often in stories, I appreciate the funny moments. Bright, whimsical, wholesome, and full of light amid times of darkness and harsh realities. It makes those serious moments hit harder and reinforces that they do not last. Not so long as love and joy are to be found. That’s why the shock of New Day’s departure from WWE in 2026 struck wrestling fans so hard. Their impact is undeniable. Unforgettable. And now it reaches its dawn; night came without most knowing the moon circling its eternal orbit. On May 2, 2025, BodySlam’s own Cory Hayes and Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that New Day would mutually part ways with WWE.
For over a decade, the trio of Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E entertained fans. Sure, it took them a moment to find their identity, but when they did, something magical happened. There was a chemistry, a fire in three men who forged a brotherhood that brought laughs, tears, and memories even in the darkest of times.
All three men were long-tenured. Their history is well-documented. Starting in 2014 with a gospel gimmick, New Day transitioned to a trio of goofballs who nerded out about anime, video games, and big meaty men slapping meat. Yet, they achieved greatness outside of the jokes.
Fans eventually responded to this. They chanted “New Day sucks!”, which eventually transitioned to “New Day Rocks!” Over the years, New Day became a fixture in the company, where fans formed a strong connection. Woods would take advantage of this with a trombone to add an instrument to the crowd’s lyrics. Laughter would echo with every innuendo, pun, and joke. Audiences would join in with their catchphrases.
From 2015 to 2016, the group held the WWE Tag Team Champions. Dethroning Tyson Kidd and Cesaro on the April 26 edition of the 2015 Extreme Rules became a huge moment for the stable. There, they would hold a record-breaking reign of 483 days thanks to Cesaro and Sheamus at 2016’s Roadblock: End of the Line on December 18. The Usos would surpass this reign on the November 11, 2022, episode of SmackDown. The Samoan brothers held the title for a 622-day reign.
They’d continue onward to have an exciting run as the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, with wars against The Bludgeon Brothers, The Dudley Boyz, The Bar, Gallows and Anderson, and most notably, The Usos. The future Bloodline members had an intense rivalry with E, Woods, and Kingston, with their 2017 Hell in a Cell Match at the similarly named event being a standout. When asked about memorable Hell in a Cell bouts, many fans will likely point you to this one, outside of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Eras.
Credit: WWE
Considering the high unpopularity of the 2018-2022 era WWE, it’s remarkable that New Day had incredible moments that shone through the murk of bad booking and lazy creative. These years left many with a feeling that WWE was anti-fan. Though this sentiment hasn’t changed, especially in the company’s current climate, WWE allowed fans this one hope.
KofiMania.
After a heated Gauntlet Match on February 12, 2019, the veteran Kofi Kingston took part in a six-man Gauntlet Match. Due to an injury that derailed the originally planned contender, Mustafa Ali, Kingston was slotted into what was going to be a simple Elimination Chamber Match a week later. Eliminating WWE Champion Daniel Bryan in an upset, Kingston’s hope diminished against the monstrous Samoa Joe. Squeaking by with a narrow elimination, Kingston suffered at the hands of the sore loser when AJ Styles came to his rescue.
Then, something beautiful happened.
Styles pleaded with Kingston that there would be no shame in forfeiting his spot in the gauntlet. He’d still make it to Elimination Chamber, he’d still be in the match. Kofi pushed back. Eleven years. He’d waited for this moment for eleven years. His voice quaked with something dissimilar to rage or pain; spirit coursed his very veins until the Phenomenal One acquiesced. They battled until Styles submitted him with a Calf Crusher. Ultimately, Kingston tapped in, as Big E and Xavier Woods helped him to the back.
Kingston, despite the setback, had insane, insane momentum behind him as fans roared for his achievements and booed his setbacks. To me, this was the moment KofiMania hooked me. Right there, from the get-go. The Elimination Chamber Match, the subsequent gauntlet matches, and social media promos from Big E and Xavier Woods, and the win over WWE Champion Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35, all from this moment.
That emotional win at Mania will stick with fans forever, especially those watching in the moment. Tears flowing from Xavier Woods, Big E beaming, Kofi overwhelmed with both emotion and sweat. Even his children joined him in the ring.
The less said about how his reign was handled, let alone ended, the better.
Big E’s eventual title ascension proved to be just as hopeful and inspirational when he dashed Seth Rollins’s Money in the Bank aspirations with a Big Ending. He’d then grab the briefcase and fight to contain his emotions as he celebrated. He’d later cash it in on Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship on the September 13, 2021, episode of Raw to great success.
The less said about how his reign was handled, let alone ended, like Kingston’s, the better.
Tragedy would strike on WrestleMania 38, when he suffered a botched overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland. This resulted in a broken neck, with fractures to his vertebrae. To date, he’s gone on to say that he’s effectively retired from pro wrestling action.
Alone again, Kingston and Woods marched on. They’d cause a stir of controversy on the heels of 2022’s NXT Deadline. Unseating Pretty Deadly as NXT Tag Team Champions, New Day thus became WWE Tag Team Triple Crown Champions.
Over the subsequent years, Kings and Woods grew progressively at odds with each other. From Karrion Kross and The Final Testament to Oddysey Jones and the LWO, it was clear they weren’t as communicative. Week after week, they’d bicker, and things weren’t as funny or lighthearted. Woods and Kingston brought out unbridled vitriol, soon to bubble over.
The pair agreed in December to hold a 10th anniversary celebration of the team’s formation. There, they mourned Big E’s absence and stated that they’ve grown apart. Big E, who’d been mostly seen on pre-shows and interviews, joined them. The former WWE Champion begged them to stay together, that he’d join them as manager until he’s ever cleared. For Kingston and Woods, it was far, far too late. He could have come back at any moment, but he chose to leave it behind until they were about to leave it behind. No, they wouldn’t allow it. Effectively turning heel, Kingston and Woods evicted Big E from the group. Albeit this excommunication, E had small solace, knowing his brothers would remain together.
The New Day, sans Big E, won their last WWE title together at WrestleMania 41, Night One, from War Raiders. Woods and Kingston held the World Tag Team Championships for 72 days before losing them to Finn Balor and JD McDonagh of the Judgement Day on the June 30, 2025, episode of Raw.
Taking Grayson Waller under their tutelage, Kingston and Woods simply existed for a time, mostly in backstage segments, before finally departing from WWE mutually on May 2, 2026.
So ends the New Day.
It’s been bittersweet writing this up. All of the bright moments, the levity and joy these three men brought, I’ve enjoyed reliving. The New Day’s Dragon Ball Z-inspired gear at WrestleMania 32 was forever made iconic with their giant box of Booty-O’s. Their reaction to Xavier Woods falling prey to a Stone Cold Stunner by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin at the same event. Their hilarious back-and-forth promo with The Rock. The wins, the losses, and the everything in between.
They were guaranteed smiles from crowds and viewers at home. That connection isn’t easy for most to establish, but they made it seem so effortless. Moreover, they were outspoken on their stances on current events, such as Hulk Hogan’s return to WWE or the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, their feuds in 2017-18 injected life into WWE’s tag team division, particularly their rivalry with The Usos.
Considering these accolades and achievements and reputation, the fact that fans wanted so much more than the company had been willing to give to New Day is a testament to the stable’s unwavering power. I attribute this to the human story of this, told through comedy, tragedy, heartbreak, and glory. In a world where things are made corporate for the sake of content, there was art, there was feeling, and damn it all to hell, there was soul.
Wherever Kofi and Xavier go, I hope they find great fun and success in it. Personally and selfishly, I’d love to see dream matches in AEW against The Young Bucks, The Rascalz, RPG Vice, and more. They are quite well-suited to the company’s PWG-esque tags and multi-man matches. Away from the lens of WWE, I’m curious to see how they’d fare. Of course, if they run the independent route, they have the means to comfortably do so. Either way, I support what they and Big E do from here on out, together or separate.
Credit: WWE
In any day’s cycle, there’s a dawn and a dusk. New Day just so happened to eclipse its twilight.
But it’s not the end, never the end. When night comes and goes, and the moon dips beneath the sea, the morning will come.
