The wrestling world is reeling from a seismic shift as one of WWE's most iconic tag teams, The New Day, has reportedly split from the company. Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, who together formed the heart of this legendary group for 16 years, have "mutually decided" to end their run with WWE, according to reports from Fightful and Bodyslam on Saturday. The news came just 24 hours after both superstars were moved to WWE's official "Alumni" page—a telltale sign that their time in the ring had come to an end.
This isn't just any breakup. The New Day, originally formed in 2014 with the now-retired Big E, revolutionized tag-team wrestling. Together, Kingston and Woods racked up a record 13 tag-team championship reigns, including an astonishing 483-day run as Raw Tag Team Champions. Their chemistry, charisma, and connection with fans made them one of the most decorated duos in modern WWE history. Both Kingston and Woods also tasted solo success, with Kingston capturing the WWE Championship in a career-defining moment at WrestleMania 35, while Woods' contributions were equally vital to the group's legacy.
The duo's journey took a dramatic turn in late 2024 when, during their 10-year anniversary celebration, they turned heel in a shocking moment that left fans stunned. After Big E was forced to retire due to a neck injury in 2022, Kingston and Woods carried the New Day banner forward as a duo, but the recent split marks the end of an era.
But the roster shakeup doesn't stop there. In a related development, MFT faction members JC Mateo and Tonga Loa have also been released as part of WWE's post-WrestleMania 42 roster reset. Mateo, who joined WWE in 2025, and Loa, who arrived in 2024, were relatively new faces but now find themselves part of a massive wave of departures. They join an extensive list of cuts that includes Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, the entire Wyatt Sicks group (Uncle Howdy, Dexter Lumis, Erick Rowan, Joe Gacy, and Nikki Cross), and both members of the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin).
For fans who have followed The New Day's incredible journey—from their early days as a trio to their record-breaking championship runs—this news is a gut punch. Whether this leads to new opportunities in other promotions or a future reunion, one thing is certain: the tag-team landscape in WWE will never look the same.