One of WWE’s most iconic tag teams is leaving the company.
The New Day’s Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston and WWE have mutually decided to part ways, according to Fightful Select and Bodyslam.net. They have already been moved to the alumni section of the WWE website.
The news came as the company made a second round of post-WrestleMania cuts. Kingston and Woods chose to leave WWE after being asked to restructure they contracts, according to Bryan Alvarez of “The Wrestling Observer.” The duo did not like the offers from parent company TKO and were granted their release.
Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston WWE via Getty Images
The New Day faction — which included the injury-retired Big E — debuted in 2014 and pushed “the power of positivity.” It sent the trio on an all-time run that included 13 tag team championships, the second-longest reign in history at 438 days, a legendary rivalry with The Usos and even their own cereal. The duo last won the WWE World Tag Team championships last year at WrestleMania 41.
The 44-year-old Kingston, who had been with the company for 18-plus years, won the WWE championship at WrestleMania 35 during his emotional “KofiMania” run. He is also a four-time Intercontinental champion, three-time United States champion and a 16-time tag champion overall.
Woods, who has been on the sidelines with an injury since January, was the King of the Ring winner in 2021. The 39-year-old has been with the company since 2010.
The duo was in the midst of a failed heel turn that began in December 2024. Kingston last appeared on WWE television on April 27 when he teamed with Grayson Waller, the third member of the latest version of New Day.
Some of AEW’s top stars have already begun fueling speculation that Kingston and Woods will land with the promotion at some point by referencing the faction’s popular catch phrase. WWE contracts traditionally included a 90-day non-compete stipulation, so it could be a few months before Kingston and Woods pop up anywhere.
The New Day WWE via Getty Images
Cash Wheeler, one half of the AEW tag team champions FTR, posted a picture to X that read “Cot Damn. It’s a new day. Cot damn.” Former AEW world champion MJF posted, “It’s a new day … yes it is.” to his Instagram stories. The Young Bucks vs. New Day has been a dream match for both fans and the wrestlers themselves, and is now finally a possibility.
JC Mateo and Tonga Loa have also reportedly been released, adding to the 23 wrestlers let go in the first round of cuts.
