WWE Parts Ways with The New Day's Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston in Mutual Departure

Key facts

• Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston were moved to WWE's alumni section on Friday morning.
• The departure is described as a mutual decision between the company and the talents.
• Woods and Kingston signed long-term contract extensions in October 2025; Kingston's was a five-year deal through 2030.
• Woods had been off TV since February 2026 due to a shoulder injury; Kingston's last televised match was a loss to LA Knight on September 29, 2025.
• The New Day turned heel in 2025, ejecting Big E during their 10th anniversary celebration.
• They won the World Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 41 and held the titles for 72 days.
• JC Mateo and Tonga Loa, members of the MFT group, have also departed WWE.
• The New Day holds records: longest reigning Raw Tag Team Champions (483 days) and most SmackDown Tag Team Championship reigns (7).

A Surprising Exit After Recent Contract Extensions

Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, the core members of The New Day, have left WWE in a mutual decision that has stunned the wrestling world. The duo was quietly moved to the alumni section of WWE's website on Friday morning, signaling the end of their tenures with the company. The departure comes less than a year after both wrestlers signed long-term contract extensions in October 2025. Woods had inked a multi-year deal after negotiations that went down to the wire, while Kingston committed to a five-year extension expected to keep him with WWE through 2030. The abrupt reversal has left fans and analysts questioning what changed behind the scenes.

The End of an Era for The New Day

Woods and Kingston had been with WWE since 2006 and 2010, respectively, and formed The New Day in 2014 alongside Big E. The group became one of the most decorated tag teams in WWE history, holding multiple records including the longest reign as Raw Tag Team Champions at 483 days and the most SmackDown Tag Team Championship reigns at seven. However, the trio's dynamic shifted dramatically about a year ago when Woods and Kingston turned heel, ejecting Big E from the group during their 10th anniversary television celebration. They adopted a new persona, changed their entrance theme, and abandoned the "power of positivity" gimmick that had defined them for over a decade.

Recent Storylines and Injuries Preceded the Split

The reinvention initially paid off: Woods and Kingston captured the World Tag Team Championship at WrestleMania 41 and held the titles for 72 days. But their on-screen alliance with Grayson Waller in recent months failed to generate significant momentum. Woods had been absent from television for an extended period. On the February 16, 2026 episode of Monday Night Raw, Kingston announced during a commercial break segment that Woods had been battling a shoulder injury for three months and was forced by the medical team to take time off. Woods last competed in a dark match before the 2026 Royal Rumble Premium Live Event. Kingston remained on TV but with limited featured booking. His most recent televised match before the alumni move was a loss to LA Knight on the September 29, 2025 episode of Monday Night Raw. He later competed in a dark match at a SmackDown taping in Cincinnati.

Additional Departures: JC Mateo and Tonga Loa

The departures are not limited to The New Day. JC Mateo and Tonga Loa, who had been members of the MFT group under Solo Sikoa, have also left WWE. Mateo joined WWE only last year, while Loa returned to the company in 2024 after an earlier run years before. These exits follow a round of post-WrestleMania talent cuts just one week ago, when a large number of wrestlers were released. The current wave appears to involve mutual decisions rather than outright firings, but the exact reasons remain unclear.

Unanswered Questions and Future Implications

WWE has not publicly addressed the departures of Woods, Kingston, Mateo, or Loa. Neither Woods nor Kingston have commented on the news as of this writing. The sudden change in direction, especially after the October 2025 contract extensions, raises questions about internal dynamics and future plans. It is uncertain whether more departures are on the horizon. The wrestling industry will be watching closely to see where Woods and Kingston land next, given their proven track record and marketability.

The bottom line

• Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have left WWE in a mutual decision, ending their long tenures with the company.
• Both wrestlers signed multi-year contract extensions in October 2025, making the departure surprising.
• The New Day's heel turn in 2025 and subsequent title win at WrestleMania 41 did not sustain long-term momentum.
• Woods had been sidelined with a shoulder injury since February 2026; Kingston's TV role had diminished.
• JC Mateo and Tonga Loa have also departed WWE as part of the same wave.
• WWE has not commented, and the future plans for the departed wrestlers are unknown.