The New Day’s surprising WWE exit may have been even more unexpected behind the scenes than fans initially realized.
According to Dave Meltzer in the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were only one year into a five-year contract extension that reportedly ran through 2030 before their departures became official.
The report adds that WWE informed the duo they would essentially be cut but offered them the chance to remain with the company on reduced financial terms.
Kingston and Woods ultimately declined the offer after reportedly feeling WWE no longer had meaningful creative plans for them.
After carrying the power of positivity for more than a decade, it seems the pair decided not to stay to work a handicap match against uncertainty.
WWE reportedly offered The New Day reduced terms before their exit
According to Meltzer, WWE approached Kingston and Woods about new contracts at a lower rate despite their existing agreements running from 2025 through 2030. The report stated that both men chose to leave because “the company wasn’t doing anything with them.”
Their exits immediately sparked outcry across the wrestling industry, particularly from AEW talent.
The Young Bucks and FTR both teased interest on social media shortly after news of the departures surfaced. This fueled speculation about where Kingston and Woods could land once their reported 90-day non-compete clauses expire.
The possibility of The New Day eventually crossing paths with teams like The Young Bucks is especially notable given the history between both acts. Years ago, while The New Day dominated WWE’s tag division and The Bucks were leading Ring of Honor’s scene, the teams reportedly attempted to build toward a social media-driven feud in hopes of creating a crossover match. That idea never materialized.
Kingston, Woods, and the now-retired Big E originally formed The New Day in 2014. They enacted a gospel-inspired gimmick that initially struggled to connect. However, the trio reinvented the act into one of WWE’s most successful factions, winning 13 tag team championships — the most in company history.
Their 483-day reign once stood as WWE’s longest tag title run before The Usos eventually surpassed it. With Kingston and Woods now moving into free agency, one of wrestling’s most decorated teams suddenly finds itself entering an entirely new chapter.
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