MJF says Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed would be “incredible additions” to the AEW roster and made clear he wants to see them in the promotion as soon as they are legally able to appear.
Speaking to Ariel Helwani ahead of AEW Double Or Nothing, MJF was asked directly about the possibility of New Day coming to AEW.
“Yeah, absolutely. I don’t know what their contract situation is, but whenever they are legally allowed to come over, I think those are guys that would be incredible additions to the AEW roster. They are both crazy talented, massive stars, and guys who know their worth, which to me is the most impressive thing.”
MJF was the first AEW name to publicly react when New Day’s WWE departure was announced on May 2, with several others in the company also making reference to the duo leaving. Kingston and Creed confirmed their WWE exit on May 4 and will be going by Kofi and Austin Creed going forward.
Fightful Select has reported that every AEW source it spoke to about the duo is pushing the company to sign them, including some notable names within the promotion.
WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross recently discussed Kofi Kingston’s WWE career and predicted his future.
During an episode of his Grilling JR podcast with Conrad Thompson, the AEW commentator reflected on his involvement in bringing Kingston to WWE and shared his thoughts on the wrestler’s future.
Ross confirmed his role in signing Kingston during his tenure overseeing WWE talent relations in the mid-2000s. Kingston debuted on the main roster in 2008 and went on to become one of WWE’s most decorated performers, capturing the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 in 2019.
“I think I was involved in the process. Kofi was such a lovable, likable guy, talented as hell. You know, he’s now known for his spots in the Royal Rumble match, the spots where his both feet aren’t touching the floor type thing. But yeah, if he was hired during my tenure, damn right I was involved. I was involved in all of them. I had to do their contracts. I had to talk to them about their pay and any other little issue they may have.”
Ross then predicted Kofi’s future.
“But Kofi has always been a great team player. He will not be out of work long. You put that way.”
Kofi Kingston Could Join AEW
Kofi Kingston impressive resume during his WWE tenure. Kingston is a former WWE Champion, four-time Intercontinental Champion, and three-time United States Champion. He’s also captured multiple Tag Team Championships, primarily as part of The New Day alongside Big E and Xavier Woods.
There has been interest from AEW in signing the New Day members. A report emerged claiming close to a dozen sources within AEW expressed a desire to sign Kingston and Woods following an alleged WWE departure.
As per Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, almost no dissent has emerged among those spoken to within AEW about potentially signing the New Day duo to AEW.
At least one person within an organization usually raises concerns about a potential signing, but that has not been the case here. The outlet noted that both Kingston and Woods are universally respected within AEW and that several big names in the promotion have been actively making an internal push for the two to end up there.
Bobby Lashley Wants The New Day In AEW
Lashley has been one of several AEW names wanting them in the company. He said:
“Man, I tell you what, I think the problem that we have right now is that the Hurt Syndicate is too strong. If we bring those guys on there, we’d be just unstoppable. I don’t think there’s any guess game in what’s going to happen next.
I think Kofi and Woods, I think they’re just amazing talent, and I think that anybody and everybody is going to throw in their money to try to pick those guys up. Hopefully they come to AEW, and if they do, we’ll try to get them if we can because I would love to be able to work with those guys.”
Kingston and Woods are both subject to 90-day non-compete clauses and would make them available in late July or early August.
The duo is set to appear at GalaxyCon Oklahoma City on the weekend of May 22-24 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, followed by GalaxyCon Nashville on May 29-31 at The Fairgrounds Nashville.
Recent reports alleged that TKO attempted to restructure the duo’s contracts through pay cuts, leading to their exit.
During a recent episode of his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Hardy discussed his reaction to hearing the departure claims. The veteran stated the news would be shocking if true, given The New Day’s prominence in WWE.
“Shock. It was definitely shocking. The New Day has been such a staple of WWE, and you think they’re going to be WWE lifers, no doubt about it. And the last thing you expect is, as popular and as prominent as they still are right now, they’re going to be gone from WWE. It was very, very shocking to hear.”
Hardy continued:
“They were such big stars on a high level. It was shocking. I’m surprised they didn’t really try to figure out some way to make it work.”
Woods and Kingston formed The New Day alongside Big E in 2014. The faction has become one of the most successful tag teams in WWE history, capturing multiple tag team championships across various combinations.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Set For Appearance Outside WWE
The former New Day members have been advertised for GalaxyCon Oklahoma City under the names “Kofi” and “Austin Creed.”
The pair is set to appear at GalaxyCon Oklahoma City on the weekend of May 22-24 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, followed by GalaxyCon Nashville on May 29-31 at The Fairgrounds Nashville.
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have booked their first public appearances since departing WWE, and they’re already moving away from their WWE identities.
The former New Day members are advertised for GalaxyCon Oklahoma City under the names “Kofi” and “Austin Creed.”
The pair are set to appear at GalaxyCon Oklahoma City on the weekend of May 22-24 at the Oklahoma City Convention Center, followed by GalaxyCon Nashville on May 29-31 at The Fairgrounds Nashville.
The use of “Austin Creed” for Woods is particularly notable. It is the name he used in his emotional farewell statement, where he signed off by saying he was walking away as Austin Creed rather than Xavier Woods.
Kingston being listed simply as “Kofi” suggests he is also separating from WWE’s intellectual property while retaining the first name fans associate with him.
What’s Next for the Former New Day?
The convention appearances will mark the first time fans can interact with the duo in person since their mutual parting from WWE on May 2. The departures came after TKO offered both men reduced contracts just one year into five-year extensions signed in 2025, per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Both declined and chose to walk away.
Kingston and Woods are believed to still be under 90-day non-compete clauses following their exits, which would prevent them from appearing on rival wrestling programming until approximately August. Convention appearances like GalaxyCon are not restricted under those terms.
Their departure has already drawn significant interest from AEW talent. MJF, FTR’s Cash Wheeler, and Swerve Strickland have all publicly expressed interest in seeing the duo join All Elite Wrestling, while The Usos posted their own tribute to the team they feuded with for the better part of a decade.
Matt Jackson called Triple H in 2018 to pitch a New Day vs. The Elite dream match. The revelation, dropped on the latest episode of Being The Elite, re-contextualizes years of social media teasing into something that was nearly real, and lands at the exact moment Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are weeks away from being able to sign with All Elite Wrestling.
“We truly were trying to get a New Day, Young Bucks, Kenny match to happen. An Elite vs. New Day match actively,” Matt Jackson said on the show. “They said they were trying on their side. We were definitely talking to our bosses.”
Jackson then disclosed the call itself.
“Even to the point in 2018 when we got on the phone with Triple H and we talked to him and said, ‘Hey, we would really like to do this match.’ I don’t know if he was necessarily interested in just doing that match. I think he was more interested in pursuing us to work for him, but we talked to him about it. We were serious about doing the match and we thought we’d probably be able to do it, and unfortunately we never did.”
The Episode Doubles As A Tease
The episode itself is a watchalong of Being The Elite episode 107, the 2018 “It’s a New Day” installment that documented The Elite facing off against The New Day in Street Fighter V at E3. Kenny Omega complemented the timing by posting throwback video footage of himself gaming with The New Day from that same event, making the back-to-back teases impossible to read as coincidence.
The footage and the 2018 phone call paint the same picture. The Elite have wanted this match for nearly a decade, and they are surfacing the evidence at the precise moment it might finally happen.
Why Now
Kingston and Woods mutually parted ways with WWE on May 2. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that TKO offered the duo reduced deals just one year into a five-year contract set to run through 2030, and both men declined and walked, per the backstage update from Meltzer’s reporting.
Standard WWE deals include a 90-day non-compete clause. If Kingston and Woods are operating under that timeline, they would be eligible to sign with another promotion at the end of July, opening a runway to a potential AEW debut during the summer build to All In London.
The Young Bucks and FTR were among the first to tweet teases in the immediate aftermath of the news, per Meltzer. MJF and Cash Wheeler invoked The New Day’s signature catchphrase in their own posts. Swerve Strickland told TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast that he texted Kingston after the release and considers him “one of the top five greatest ever to do it.” The New Day name remains WWE property, so any AEW arrival would likely see Kingston and Woods working under their individual names.
Swerve Strickland would love to see Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods land in AEW, but he made clear on the latest episode of TMZ’s Inside the Ring podcast that his primary concern is that the two New Day members do whatever is best for them after their WWE departure.
Strickland was asked directly whether he wants to see Kingston and Woods sign with AEW when their 90-day clauses expire following their May 2 release from WWE.
“Oh yeah, of course. Absolutely. I also just want them to do what’s best for them. If they want to take like a five-year hiatus, they’ve earned it. They’ve more than earned it. They know their value as well, and that’s the most important thing. I hope that’s the lesson that everybody learns in this, not just like as a fan but as a professional yourself in this industry, they know their value, and they understand who they are, and they understand what they bring, and what they brought and their legacy they leave behind.”
Kingston and Woods departed WWE after being offered a significant pay cut one year into a five-year contract, choosing to walk away rather than accept reduced terms from TKO. Strickland revealed he reached out to Kingston shortly after the news broke.
His praise for Kingston went far beyond a supportive text message, placing him among the best who have ever worked in the business and describing him as a role model in the purest sense of the term.
“He’s like the epitome of professionalism when it comes to that. Especially in our culture, you look at Kofi as one of the top five greatest ever to do it. He’s truly a model — a role model, but he’s the model type of role model. He’s the perfect type of role model.”
Strickland also connected Kingston’s legacy directly to his own historic moment in AEW, explaining that Kingston’s WrestleMania title win was one of the key inspirations behind the emotion of his own April 2024 AEW World Championship victory, which made him the first Black wrestler to win the men’s AEW title.
“I meant every word I said when I won the championship and was like, ‘Kofi’s a big inspiration for that.’ It’s like, man, how do I do something so cool like that and make it my own? How do I do that in my own legacy, in my own career, something that Kofi did at WrestleMania. He’s the only Black wrestler to win the World Championship at WrestleMania. You cannot take that away from him. He’s the only one.”
The wrestling world is still buzzing about the shocking WWE departure of The New Day after TKO officials asked the wrestling veterans to restructure their deals.
While the duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have not revealed their future plans just yet, there has already been heavy speculation about E potentially leaving the promotion to reunite with his long-term partners in their next endeavor.
Fightful Select recently provided an update on the matter and suggested that the officials are not expecting the former WWE Champion to be leaving anytime soon.
Big E is regularly featured on PPV pre and post-shows for the company. According to the site, the former NXT Champion is seen as a key reason for the success of the PPV kick-off shows, and the belief is that he will remain part of the pre-show panels as he has been over the last few years.
After not having wrestled since March 2022 due to his neck injury, E confirmed earlier this year that he has officially retired from active competition. Though the report did not reveal if the former champion is still on a performer contract with the company, or if his deal has been updated.
Kofi Kingston took two full days before he was ready to respond to the outpouring of support that followed news of his and Xavier Woods’ mutual parting from WWE, and the statement he delivered on Instagram was worth the wait.
The New Day member wrote at length about a career that took him from being told he was too small, too short, and too scrawny to ever make it in professional wrestling, all the way to a championship run and a legacy that will outlast any title reign.
“It’s taken me two full days to respond to all my texts. I hadn’t been on social media until today and I’m overwhelmed by all the messages here too. So much love. So I can’t help but to be filled completely with gratitude. My story has been nothing short of remarkable and I am truly blessed to have had such an illustrious, accolade-laden and, most importantly, fun-filled career. I made my childhood dream become the most wonderful reality.”
He spoke about the relationships built throughout the journey, singling out his bond with Woods and Big E as something he knows most people never get to experience in a professional setting.
“Throughout this journey, I’m so thankful to have been surrounded by great friends and to have built so many unbreakable connections with people that I’m very proud to call my family. Most people go through life without ever experiencing a love like I have for Woods and E. That bond alone would have made this whole experience worth it.”
Kingston then addressed the purpose that drove him through every match and every road trip across a career that spanned nearly two decades.
“My main mission has always been a simple one: To provide a comfortable life filled with heartwarming memories for my family. And, largely in part to all of you, I can proudly say that I have achieved that goal and more.”
He closed with a message directed at anyone who has ever been told they do not measure up, drawing directly on his own story as evidence that the doubters are not always right.
“Do your best to live a life without regrets, control what you can control, always give it your all, and fight hard for what you believe in. Do not ever compromise or accept less than your due when it comes to your worth. Find the courage to believe in yourself and fearlessly pursue your goals and dreams, because anything is possible. The kid that was too small, short, skinny, and scrawny was never supposed to make it in this land of giants. Yet here we are.”
He ended the statement with a line that only someone who spent over a decade building the New Day brand could have written.
“And so, as the sun sets on one chapter, so too must it rise in another. Tomorrow is indeed a New Day.”
Kingston and Woods mutually agreed to part ways with WWE on May 2. No announcements about their future plans have been made.
Big E has reacted to the surprising WWE exits of his New Day stablemates Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Fans discovered earlier today that both Kingston and Woods were removed from WWE’s official roster page, marking an unexpected end to their tenures with the company.
Big E’s Response to the Departures
Big E addressed the situation on social media following the news breaking, posting the following artwork on his Instagram stories by artist Jonathan Davenport, designer of ring gear worn by New Day, Cody Rhodes and more.
The former WWE Champion’s reaction comes as fans process the sudden nature of both departures happening simultaneously.
https://www.instagram.com/p/DX2ddiEAYe0
What’s Next for The New Day
The trio formed one of the most successful factions in modern WWE history, with The New Day becoming multi-time tag team champions and cultural icons within the wrestling industry. Big E has been sidelined from in-ring competition since suffering a broken neck in March 2022.
Kingston and Woods have been integral parts of WWE programming for over a decade each. Kingston is a former WWE Champion and multiple-time tag team champion, while Woods has held tag team gold on numerous occasions alongside his New Day brothers.
The future of The New Day as a faction remains uncertain with two-thirds of the group now departed from WWE. Big E continues his recovery from his career-threatening neck injury, though no timeline has been announced for a potential return to action.
Both Kingston and Woods’ contracts and the circumstances surrounding their exits have not been officially confirmed by WWE at this time.
The New Day members Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were granted their WWE release. Now, WWE stars The Usos, AEW stars MJF and Cash Wheeler posted their reactions on social media.
As per Wrestling Observer’s Bryan Alvarez, Woods and Kingston parted ways with WWE after they asked to restructure their current deals with TKO. The pair had been with the company as part of the New Day faction since 2014.
MJF and Cash Wheeler React
Both AEW stars referenced New Day’s signature catchphrase following the departure.
MJF posted to his Instagram Stories: “It’s a new day…. yes it is.”
Cash Wheeler of FTR posted on X: “Cot damn. It’s a new day. Cot damn.”
Wheeler and tag team partner Dax Harwood have clashed with New Day multiple times while both teams were in WWE during 2019. The teams, then known as The Revival, faced off in several six-man tags alongside Randy Orton that year.
In 2019, Big E and Kofi Kingston defeated The Revival to win the SmackDown Tag Team titles. New Day retained the championships against The Revival at the TLC pay-per-view in Minneapolis on December 15, 2019.
Meanwhile, The Usos and The New Day have dominated WWE’s modern tag team division with classic title matches and rivalries.
Woods and Kingston’s departure from WWE marks the end of New Day’s 12-year run with the company.
One of WWE’s most beloved acts is coming to an end, with Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston departing the company.
Fightful Select and Bodyslam report that both members of New Day are leaving WWE. Fightful Select was told the split was mutual, with both parties agreeing to part ways.
More WWE Releases
Tanga Loa and JC Mateo are also leaving the company as part of the same wave of departures.
New Day, which also included Big E before his in-ring retirement following a broken neck suffered in 2022, became one of WWE’s most decorated tag teams and one of the most popular acts in the company’s recent history.
Kingston and Woods held the WWE Tag Team Championships on multiple occasions and were fixtures on both Raw and SmackDown for over a decade.
No further details about the circumstances of the departures or the future plans of either Kingston or Woods have been provided at this time.
Kofi Kingston recently accepted Penta’s open challenge for the Intercontinental Championship on Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden. The match was confirmed after Kingston responded to Penta’s social media post with a quote tweet that WWE’s official account reposted.
Penta announced the open challenge on Instagram and X on Saturday, posting a promotional graphic and writing:
“NYC. MSG. P0M. IC OPEN CHALLENGE!!! Porque yo no le tengo miedo A NADIE. MONDAY NIGHT RAW WILL BE A SCORCHER. Penta’s road to WrestleMania is ON!”
“No se diga mas, cabron. I would love nothing more than to walk into the depths of Hell (New York) and pry the Holy Grail (IC Title) from the vile grips of the Devil himself (Penta). See you tomorrow, amigo.”
No se diga mas, cabron.
I would love nothing more than to walk into the depths of Hell (New York) and pry the Holy Grail (IC Title) from the vile grips of the Devil himself (Penta).
The match represents Kingston’s first opportunity at the Intercontinental Title in 14 years. The former WWE Champion has held multiple tag team championships but has not captured singles gold on the main roster since his WWE Championship reign.
Penta’s Title Reign
Penta won the Intercontinental Championship from Dominik Mysterio earlier this month. He has successfully defended the title against El Grande Americano, Dragon Lee, and Mysterio.
Monday Night Raw at Madison Square Garden also features a Street Fight for the WWE World Tag Team Championships with The Usos defending against The Vision, plus appearances from Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, and CM Punk.
While the New Day were not featured on the broadcast of this week\’s Raw from Memphis, Tennessee, they did make an appearance during a commercial break on the show.
Kofi Kingston, accompanied by Grayson Waller, cut a promo for the crowd. The former WWE Champion revealed that their other partner, Woods has been dealing with a shoulder injury for a while and doctors have now pulled him off the road for better recovery:
“We have some devastating news to report here tonight to you idiots. Xavier Woods has been injured. He’s been battling a shoulder injury quietly and bravely for the better part of three months now and the medical team and the doctors are now forcing him to take time off in order for the shoulder to recover.”
Waller then read a message from Xavier Woods for the people in attendance where the injured star mentioned how poor and ugly the residents of Memphis were.
The UpUpDownDown star last wrestled in a dark match during the Royal Rumble PPV from Saudi Arabia. He had taken part in the road to Royal Rumble and Christmas Live Event tours before that so it seems likely that he aggravated the injury more recently.
Seth Rollins gave Kofi Kingston a last-minute ticket to Sunday\’s Super Bowl, where Kingston watched his New England Patriots suffer a crushing defeat. Rollins apologized to Kingston on Monday morning for extending the invitation.
Kingston shared screenshots showing Rollins reaching out via direct message asking \”Wanna go to the Super Bowl?\” and offering an extra ticket.
Wish the result was different, but I have to thank Seth & Becky for making this possible. Watching your team play in the Super Bowl is such a rare experience & I’m beyond grateful for their thoughtfulness. BIG Salute to the Cap’n & The Man! ?
Kingston accepted immediately, with Rollins sending a formal ticket transfer notification for one NFL Event ticket with an acceptance deadline of February 8.
Following the Patriots\’ loss, Kingston thanked Rollins and Lynch despite the outcome. \”Wish the result was different, but I have to thank Seth & Becky for making this possible,\” Kingston wrote. \”Watching your team play in the Super Bowl is such a rare experience & I\’m beyond grateful for their thoughtfulness. BIG Salute to the Cap\’n & The Man! I am forever indebted…\”
Rollins responded Monday morning with an apology for inviting Kingston to witness his team\’s defeat.
Seth apologizing to Kofi Kingston for sending him to watch that Patriots loss is sending me lmao he really tried to be a good friend but the Universe had other plans? pic.twitter.com/LaUyvGUauu
Kingston announced Monday he would miss tonight\’s WWE Raw, citing illness. \”Actually, I\’m calling out sick from work today,\” Kingston wrote. \”Don\’t expect to see me. Also if you care about me, please don\’t message me, as it will slow my recovery. Thank you.\”
Actually, I’m calling out sick from work today. Don’t expect to see me. Also if you care about me, please don’t message me, as it will slow my recovery. Thank you. https://t.co/JdFsQk6i9v
Je’Von Evans has explained why he didn\’t do a Kofi Kingston-style spot at Royal Rumble.
The New Day star had become a highlight of the Rumble for many years with fans anticipating his unique saves every time the match came around. After couple of years of back-to-back failures, however, Kingston stopped doing these spots and he has not even been featured in the battle royal for the past couple years.
Many had expected Je’Von Evans to do something similar upon his Royal Rumble debut this year. During a recent Busted Open appearance, the 21-year-old revealed that he had actually practiced a spot for the match:
\”Going back to the Rumble, everybody was kind of expecting me to do the Kofi Kingston save like, ‘Oh, is he going to jump from the table to the apron or whatever?’ I tried it. I tried it and it worked but I’m glad we didn’t do it.\”
Je’Von Evans however, is glad that the spot was ultimately not included in the bout because he wants to do something of his own instead of interfering with the former WWE Champion\’s legacy:
\”Because I feel like Kofi, he made that so memorable and his. I don’t want to continue something that he already made legendary, you know? That was his thing so I want to create something that everyone looks at and goes, ‘Oh, that’s Je’Von Evans.’ I always want to be myself for sure.\”
The former NXT star entered the Rumble at #8, and he lasted over 40 minutes in the match, longer than any other participant. He was eventually eliminated by Randy Orton.
