More information has surfaced regarding the surprising exits of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods from WWE, with a new report shedding light on how the departures came together and the reaction behind the scenes.
According to Fightful, both members of The New Day were released from WWE through a mutual agreement with the company. The report states that the paperwork was finalized last week and that Kingston and Woods are expected to remain under WWE’s standard 90-day non-compete clause before they are able to appear elsewhere.
The news reportedly caught many within WWE completely off guard. Several talents were said to be stunned by the departures, especially in Kingston’s case. Internally, many viewed the former WWE Champion as someone who would spend his entire career with the company, making his exit particularly shocking to those backstage.
The situation has also reportedly sparked concern among WWE talent, with some now believing that no performer is truly safe from roster cuts or releases under the current system.
Fightful further noted that the departures are connected to larger financial directives from TKO Group Holdings, WWE’s parent company. Sources claim WWE has been instructed to reduce payroll expenses by millions of dollars, leading to difficult roster decisions involving high-earning talent.
Kingston and Woods reportedly signed lucrative new contracts in 2025 that paid both stars in the seven-figure range. Those deals were believed to run through 2030, which made the decision to part ways with the duo even more unexpected.
With their WWE exits now official, interest in the pair is already said to be strong across the wrestling industry. AEW is reportedly expected to pursue both talents once their non-compete periods expire.
The report also indicates that Kingston is likely to continue using the name “Kofi” moving forward. Woods, however, will not be able to use the “Xavier Woods” ring name since it is trademarked by WWE. Instead, he is expected to revert to “Austin Creed,” the name he previously used during his run in TNA Wrestling.
Additionally, WWE owns the rights to “The New Day” name and presentation, meaning the popular faction branding cannot follow the duo to another promotion.
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