Add as a preferred source on Google Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods’ departure from WWE continues to fuel heavy speculation about a potential move to AEW.
As previously reported, the two were not let go due to their contracts simply expiring. The pair was called in to restructure their deals under TKO’s new terms, didn’t agree with the revised conditions, and ultimately received their release from the company. Both are still subject to a 90-day non-compete clause.
However, Jim Cornette believes WWE isn’t losing any sleep over the possibility of Tony Khan signing the two former New Day members. On his podcast, the veteran said the company understands that very few names out there could actually move the needle for AEW.
“I think they pretty much understand in the WWE or the TKO hierarchy that very few people, if anybody in the world, is a ‘difference maker’ for AEW. So there would be some guys that there might be some level of embarrassment if they somehow found themselves signed by Tony (Khan) for billions and billions of dollars. But for the most part, they know that nobody that they would want to release anytime in the near future would be able to make any difference because they’ve figured out Tony’s level and Tony’s structure, and nobody else has made a difference when they should have. And then also they may know something inside.”
Still, the possibility has already been teased by names within AEW itself. MJF posted the phrase “It’s a New Day, yes it is,” while Fightful noted that The New Day and The Elite had tried to set up a match back in 2018, before the first All In, but the idea was never greenlit.
It’s worth noting that Kingston had been with WWE since 2006, while Woods joined in 2010. Together, they were part of one of the greatest tag teams in company history, capturing tag team gold 13 times and holding the record for the longest RAW Tag Team Championship reign at 483 days.