Big E’s Emotional Reaction To The New Day’s WWE Departure

The New Day’s departure from WWE on May 2 sent shockwaves in the wrestling community.

Fans took to social media to send their support to Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, who had been signed to the Stamford promotion for more than 15 years.

While it was reported that the wrestlers agreed to mutually part ways with the company, it was later confirmed that they arrived at the decision after failing to negotiate a new contract.

A report by Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer revealed that WWE/TKO wanted Kingston and Woods to restructure their respective contracts, which they refused to do.

We can also confirm that in the case of New Day, it was their decision to leave based on what TKO was offering for a new deal.

To be specific, New Day’s deals were not up. They were asked to restructure to TKO deals, they didn’t like the deals, so they were then granted their release.

The New Day was a heel faction at the time of their release. Their heel turn occurred on the December 2, 2024, episode of Raw, which marked their 10 years in the Stamford promotion as a group.

While Kofi and Xavier celebrated in the ring, Big E, who had been out of action since 2022 due to a neck injury, came out to join his teammates.

E said that while he could not offer them support in a wrestling capacity, he was more than willing to be their manager. Kingston and Woods berated the former Universal Champion before excommunicating him from The New Day.

Following their release, Big E took to Instagram Stories to honor his former stablemates by sharing a fan art, which showed the two superstars leaving their in-ring gear in a trash can, likening to that of Peter Parker from The Amazing Spider-Man #50, titled “Spider-Man No More!”

The New Day Receives Interest From Several AEW Stars

As of this moment, The New Day members have not confirmed where they would wrestle next after departing WWE.

Nevertheless, several AEW wrestlers have shown a keen interest in welcoming the veterans to the Jacksonville-based company by making indirect references on their respective social media accounts.

Yesterday, former AEW World Champion, MJF, shared a Story on Instagram, where he simply wrote the opening phrase of their theme, “It’s a new day…yes it is.”

Even one-half of the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Cash Wheeler, took to his social media, where he referenced Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, writing, “Cot damn It’s a New Day Cot damn.”

PWInsider‘s Mike Johnson also confirmed that there was a lot of interest on AEW’s part to hire the former multi-time WWE Tag Team Champions.

Before they can start wrestling for another promotion, The New Day members must keep to the 90-day no-compete clause.

It remains to be seen whether or not they join All Elite Wrestling, where the tag team division comprises prominent names like The Young Bucks, Cope & Cage, FTR, and The Hurt Syndicate.

Also read: Top WWE Superstar May Join AEW In 2027