Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have mutually decided to leave WWE after 16 years as part of The New Day. Their departure marks the end of one of WWE’s most iconic tag teams amid a wave of roster cuts.
The New Day debuted in 2014 and became one of the most successful tag teams in WWE history. They won a total of 13 tag team championships during their run.
Kingston made his main roster debut in 2008, while Woods joined the roster in 2013. Both wrestlers were asked by WWE’s parent company TKO to restructure their contracts, which they did not accept.
As of midday, both wrestlers are under 90-day non-compete deals following their release. This means they cannot sign with another promotion until the non-compete period ends.
The New Day’s longest Raw tag team title reign lasted an impressive 483 days. Kingston is also a former WWE Champion and has held four Intercontinental titles and three United States titles.
Xavier Woods won the King of the Ring in 2021 but has been sidelined with an injury since January 2025. The New Day’s last championship victory occurred at WrestleMania 41.
JC Mateo and Tonga Loa were also released from WWE as part of these roster cuts. The New Day utilized the “Freebird Rule” for their tag title defenses, allowing any member to compete for the titles.
Fans and fellow wrestlers have begun speculating about Kingston and Woods potentially joining AEW. MJF tweeted, “It’s a new day … yes it is,” while Cash Wheeler remarked, “Cot Damn. It’s a new day. Cot damn.”
Bryan Alvarez confirmed that it was indeed Kingston and Woods’ decision to leave based on what TKO was offering for a new deal. Observers note that The New Day is officially over.
This marks a significant moment in professional wrestling as KofiMania will now take a new turn outside WWE.
