The New Day almost looked very different from the group fans came to know and love.
Speaking on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet, Big E looked back at the early concept behind The New Day during their time in FCW alongside Xavier Woods, Byron Saxton, and Abraham Washington.
“So the original pitch was for us to be the new Nation of Domination,” Big E said.
He explained that the group originally formed under a very different identity in FCW.
“We originally called the group The Clan, and it stood for Citizens Liberation of American Nationalism. So it was supposed to be this militant Black group, much in the vein of the Nation of Domination. We all grew up loving The Nation and we wanted to do something in that vein.”
Big E added that WWE management quickly shut the idea down.
“That group initially, it was initially The Clan, then we became The Plan, because the office said we’re not doing that. So we exchanged citizens for people, so that was it. We came out in white and red, so that very first suit that you see Woods come out in, that was like his old stuff from when we were pitching The Plan in FCW, so we never got to do that on FCW TV. We did a few weeks of that, and then eventually the office in FCW said it’s dead, you guys can’t do this anymore, move on.”
Big E Says The New Day Pitch Resurfaced On The Main Roster
Big E then reflected on the period when the idea eventually resurfaced on the main roster years later.
He recalled that WWE had little creative direction for him at the time.
“Honestly, that same day, I was told by creative, I was told by Road Dogg, ‘Look, we like you, but we got nothing for you. Essentially, we need you to go into pre-tapes and just try stuff.'”
It was during that period that Xavier Woods approached him with the idea of forming a group.
“I always respected Woods as someone who was a very, very creative guy, just someone who was always pitching, always thinking outside the box. So I thought, man, you know what, he’s someone who I think has a ton of ideas. Let’s give it a shot.”
Xavier Woods Pushed For Kofi Kingston’s Inclusion
Big E said Woods also pushed the idea of including Kofi Kingston.
“Woods first came up with the idea of adding Kofi. I love Kofi. We interacted a little. He and I both trained at Cena’s gym, so I’d see him in Tampa from time to time.”
Big E also revealed that Kingston himself was going through a difficult period in his career at the time.
“Kofi, at the time, was kind of not really having the best time wrestling, and it was interesting, he even himself, he was thinking, Maybe I want to retire early, maybe I want to be done. I kind of feel like I’ve kind of hit my glass ceiling. I think I’m good.'”
From there, the trio continued pitching different versions of the group before eventually landing on what would become The New Day.
“So just knowing that the office really had nothing for me, that Woods was in need of something, I just said, ‘Let’s do this, man. Let’s give it a shot.
“It was months and months and months of pitching. The three of us were on house shows together. We didn’t have a name, but we got to work on chemistry, but we very quickly realized we have something here.”
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