What’s Next for 13-Time Tag Team Champions After WWE Departure?
The New Day has been one of WWE’s most successful factions in the company’s history. From making their first appearance as gospel babyfaces to becoming 13-time Tag Team Champions, the trio has done it all in WWE. Even after Big E suffered an unfortunate neck injury, The New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods continued to play a prominent role on WWE television. With all their success and history with the company, it came as a shock when it was announced that Kingston and Woods had mutually parted ways with WWE. A history-making faction with over 10 years as one of WWE’s best tag teams was suddenly gone from the company. With Big E remaining with the company as a panelist and analyst for WWE, The New Day’s in-ring career with the company has officially ended. With the duo departing WWE, there are many places the longest-reigning Raw Tag Team Champions could end up.
As individual competitors, both Kingston and Woods had their fair share of success. Kingston had already established himself as a prominent midcard act, winning both the Intercontinental and United States Championships on multiple occasions. As a member of The New Day, Kingston reached the top of the mountain when he defeated Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35 to become the new WWE Champion. Kingston would hold on to the title for 180 days before dropping the title to Brock Lesnar on the first SmackDown on FOX. Woods, on the other hand, might not have won gold as a singles competitor in WWE, but he did manage to win the King of the Ring Tournament. Woods defeated Finn Bálor at Crown Jewel 2021 to become the 22nd King of the Ring.
Kingston and Woods went through multiple character developments during their time in The New Day. They started off as babyfaces but subsequently turned heel, as fans didn’t seem to like the positive energy the group was giving off. Their character work as heels made fans begin to cheer for them, as their hilarious attitude and charisma had finally resonated with the audience. From SummerSlam 2015 up until Roadblock: End of the Line 2016, The New Day became the longest-reigning tag team champions in WWE history, until The Usos surpassed their record in 2022. The group continued to entertain audiences as a trio until Big E was sidelined with an injury in 2022 that, unfortunately, has kept him out of action ever since. In 2024, during their 10-year anniversary celebration, Kingston and Woods kicked Big E out of the group, ending their relationship and turning heel in the process. The duo would go on to win the tag titles one more time, defeating The War Raiders for the belts at Night One of WrestleMania 41. The New Day would continue being featured on WWE television, even adding Grayson Waller as an honorary member, before they eventually decided to part ways with the company.
It’s no surprise that many wrestling companies are lining up to add Kingston and Woods to their rosters. As a team, both men are capable of playing their roles, whether it’s by throwing pancakes at the crowd as faces or simply ignoring children as heels. Their in-ring chemistry is above that of many other tag teams in the world, and any roster would be lucky to have them join their tag team division. One roster that Kingston and Woods could fall perfectly into place on is All Elite Wrestling. Kingston and Woods would have a plethora of tag teams to run feuds with, such as The Young Bucks, FTR, Brodido, and others. Any team they choose to challenge in AEW would be a guaranteed banger of a match. While there are other promotions Kingston and Woods could go to, such as TNA or New Japan Pro Wrestling, AEW seems like the perfect fit for the team.
Wherever Kingston and Woods decide to go, they are guaranteed to be treated like absolute legends. Their legacy in the tag team division is already secured, and their time in WWE as The New Day will always be remembered as one of WWE’s greatest success stories of all time. Both men will definitely be offered multiple opportunities to work wherever they decide to go, and wherever they make their presence, expect them to still have that same fire in their eyes they showed during their time in WWE. They’ll still have to wait until their no-compete clause comes to an end, but once that’s up, Kingston and Woods will be ready to make a name for themselves outside of WWE.
