Xavier Woods took to X to share his farewell to WWE following news of his and Kofi Kingston’s mutual parting from the company on May 2, and he closed it in a way that felt like a full-circle moment for a man who spent 16 years building something genuinely his own.
Woods opened by reflecting on what WWE represented to him from the very beginning, framing the company less as an employer and more as the place where he became who he is.
“For the past 16 years, WWE has been my home. It’s where I grew up, found myself, failed, learned, and got to live out things the younger version of me could only dream about. When I first walked into FCW, I just wanted a chance to prove I belonged and to bring something different to professional wrestling. That chance became a life full of moments I’ll carry with me forever — WrestleMania, championships, King of the Ring, arenas around the world, and the gift of connecting with all of you by being myself.”
He then acknowledged what New Day gave him beyond championships and crowd reactions, pointing to the bond with Kofi Kingston and Big E as something that transcends any professional achievement.
“The New Day gave me a bond with Kofi and Big E that I’ll cherish for life. You believed in us, even when our ideas were wild, and because of that, we got to show people that being unapologetically yourself is a strength.”
Woods also gave specific recognition to UpUpDownDown, the gaming YouTube channel he built within the WWE ecosystem that became a creative outlet for a different kind of connection with fans.
“UpUpDownDown became another piece of that same mission: a place for joy, friendship, and humanity. I’m so thankful to everyone, past and present, who helped build it brick by brick.”
Perhaps the most striking part of the statement was the depth of gratitude he directed toward the people who rarely receive public acknowledgment from performers.
“To the locker room, producers, trainers, crew, camera teams, ring crew, everyone behind the scenes, and the props department – thank you. WWE has the most special and hardest working props department that you’ll ever find. Love you guys and none of this happens without you.”
He closed the statement by signing off not as Xavier Woods, the character he portrayed for over a decade, but as the person underneath it.
“And to everyone who has been part of this ride: thank you for believing in me. Thank you for letting me be Xavier Woods. Thank you for giving me the confidence to walk away as Austin Creed.”