Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Reportedly Turned Down 50% Pay Cut From WWE

BY SACNILK

It has been widely expected, ever since The New Day decided to leave WWE after turning down a 50% pay cut to stay, that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods would be winding up in AEW. The Young Bucks have wanted to do a program with them for years — and now, months after the split, that dream match feels closer than ever. The New Day's exit wasn't a typical release — it was the result of a stand. Kingston and Woods had signed five-year contract extensions with WWE back in 2025, doing so without even shopping around for offers from AEW or other promotions, widely seen as a genuine show of loyalty to the company. Just a year later, TKO came back and asked them to restructure those deals at a reduced rate, reportedly giving them only two days to decide. Both men chose to walk instead, leaving millions on the table from the remaining four years of their contracts. The New Day's situation wasn't isolated. Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer confirmed reports that at least one major-name WWE wrestler agreed to a 50% pay cut around the same time, with sources noting the wrestlers being targeted were often those earning well into seven figures — talent who "simply couldn't earn anywhere near $1 million elsewhere," limiting their leverage to push back. Multiple reports indicate the number of wrestlers approached about cuts was under half a dozen, largely veterans, including some recovering from injury, whom the company reportedly would have released outright had they refused. How WWE handled the departure reportedly stung people behind the scenes. The company quietly moved both Kingston and Woods to the alumni section of its website without any public acknowledgment of their contributions — no farewell, no statement. One WWE source told Fightful Select they were "disgusted" by the lack of recognition. A joint statement marking the departure had apparently been planned internally but never materialized. Interest from AEW's side has been an open secret. Multiple people within the company reportedly pushed for New Day to be signed, with insiders noting frustration among talent over how WWE handled the exits of players like New Day and Santos Escobar — wrestlers who'd signed extensions in good faith within the past year. The Young Bucks haven't been subtle about their excitement. AEW's Dynamite has featured Matt and Nick Jackson wearing light blue shirts with pink-and-white accents — an unmistakable nod to New Day's classic color scheme. Matt Jackson has since confirmed publicly that a Young Bucks vs. New Day dream match is "at play," calling it something he'd "counted off as a possibility" until now. As of mid-August 2026, the deal isn't officially confirmed, but nearly every signal points the same direction. The New Day's 90-day non-compete clause was expected to expire around the start of August, with some reports suggesting a debut as early as AEW Collision on August 1, or shortly after SummerSlam if not. Speculation continues to swirl around a possible arrival tied to a Young Bucks/Christian Cage & Adam Copeland trios angle, with several outlets floating AEW All In: London at Wembley Stadium as a potential landing spot for the big reveal.

BY SACNILK

Kofi Kingston and Austin Creed could be heading to AEW soon, according to a new Fightful Select report. Neither man has officially confirmed a deal with Tony Khan's company, but sources say it's "expected" they'll join in the near future. Both men have been announced for Chris Jericho's wrestling cruise this November, appearing under the names "Kofi" and "Austin Creed." There's also growing speculation that they could show up sooner — possibly at AEW's All In event at Wembley Stadium on August 30. Wrestling veteran Jim Ross has weighed in too, noting that while he believes the pair could be a strong fit, AEW would need real room in its tag division to sign a full team rather than a single star. If it happens, they could slot into AEW's tag scene alongside recent additions like the Motor City Machine Guns, with the AEW Tag Team Championship currently held by Adam Copeland and Christian Cage. Austin Creed is better known to WWE fans as Xavier Woods, one-third of The New Day alongside Kofi Kingston and Big E. Woods spent 16 years with WWE, becoming a multi-time Tag Team Champion and building a major second career as a content creator through his gaming YouTube channel, UpUpDownDown. He and Kofi mutually parted ways with WWE on May 2, 2026, after being asked to restructure their contracts under new owner TKO — deals they weren't happy with. His non-compete clause expired in early August, and he's since rebranded as Austin Creed for his next chapter. Kofi Kingston's exit hit harder given his history. He debuted with WWE in 2008 and spent nearly 20 years with the company, becoming a former WWE Champion (his emotional WrestleMania 35 win in 2019), multiple-time Intercontinental Champion, and a cornerstone of The New Day's record-setting title reigns. Like Woods, Kingston was reportedly asked to sign a new deal for less money, with his final WWE appearance coming on SmackDown in April 2026 before his release was announced that May.

BY SACNILK

Kofi Kingston possesses an intimate understanding of the exhilarating journey to WWE Championship glory, a path that he traversed with unyielding determination in 2019. His rise to the upper echelons of the industry culminated in a monumental triumph, as he emerged victorious in a captivating showdown against Daniel Bryan at the hallowed grandeur of WrestleMania 35, triumphantly securing the coveted WWE Title. ## Regrettably, Kingston's reign atop the WWE mountain was ephemeral, succumbing to the mighty force of Brock Lesnar on that fateful night of October 4, 2019, during an electrifying episode of SmackDown on the esteemed FOX network. However, Kofi Kingston, a true visionary and perceptive soul, perceives the promise of greatness within his esteemed comrade, Xavier Woods. ## During an enlightening appearance on the illustrious Battleground Podcast, Kingston unabashedly expressed his conviction that Xavier Woods possesses all the essential attributes to ascend to the lofty status of WWE World Heavyweight Champion. With unwavering confidence, Kingston espoused, "It's imminent, my friends. Mark my words, the time shall come. As I continue my absence from the squared circle, Woods has been gallantly forging his own path, showcasing his unparalleled talents as a singular force in the singles competition. Sadly, the masses remain unaware of the vast reservoir of aptitude that lies within him. Nevertheless, week after week, he valiantly demonstrates his mettle, leaving an indelible mark. It is only a matter of time before destiny intertwines with opportunity, and Woods claims his rightful place at the apex of our industry." ## Indeed, the stage is set for a captivating tale to unfold, an engrossing narrative that transcends the confines of the ring. The intricacies of this prophecy were subtly woven into the fabric of our consciousness during a remarkable livestream event on the acclaimed Up, Up, Down, Down platform. Under the evocative theme of "School's Out," Woods and his arch-nemesis, The Miz, engaged in a spirited rivalry through the medium of video games. A tantalizing stipulation was introduced into this digital duel, whereupon each time Woods emerged triumphant against The Miz, the esteemed competitor would be compelled to relinquish one of his cherished replica titles. And lo and behold, the climactic moment arrived, as Woods valiantly conquered The Miz, thus vanquishing him for his very own WWE Championship replica. ## To stay updated with all the latest combat sports news, add Sacnilk.com to your Google News feeds and follow us on Twitter.

BY SACNILK

Kofi Kingston began his career in WWE as part of the stable known as The New Day, alongside Big E and Xavier Woods. He made his WWE debut in 2008 and has since become one of the most popular and accomplished wrestlers in the company. ## Kingston is known for his high-flying and acrobatic in-ring style, which often includes moves such as the Trouble in Paradise (a spinning roundhouse kick) and the S.O.S (a bridging inverted facelock neckbreaker). He is also known for his ability to incorporate his Jamaican heritage into his character, often using dance moves and reggae-inspired music during his entrances. ## In 2010, Kingston won the Intercontinental Championship, becoming the first African-born wrestler to hold that title. He went on to hold the title three more times. He also won the United States Championship, twice, and he has also been part of the WWE Tag Team Championship with his stablemates Big E and Xavier Woods. ## In 2019, Kingston won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35, by defeating Daniel Bryan in an impressive match. He became the first African-born wrestler to hold the WWE Championship and his victory was celebrated by the WWE fans around the world. ## He held the title for a few months, but Brock Lesnar defeated him in roughly 10 seconds to win the gold on the premiere of SmackDown on FOX. ## Speaking on his FTR with Dax Harwood podcast, Dax Harwood said that the way Kofi Kingston lost the WWE Championship was heartbreaking. ## “I was very, very upset. I remember that I texted Kofi. Actually it was a group text with The New Day and myself and Dan [Cash Wheeler]. I apologized to him and I said, 'I’m so sorry this happened to you, man. We’re so upset. I can’t believe this is for real.’ Not because of anything with Brock, but how much we had worked and how he had worked to get to this point. Especially when we were working with him, with Randy, I saw him outside of Vince’s office or go into Vince’s office every single week to try to make things better, to try to make his championship run better.## He worked so hard to be a great champion. I think a lot of people, maybe they think, ‘Oh, man, his championship run wasn’t successful because of whatever. It wasn’t for lack of trying. Because I saw him every week try his damndest to make something of nothing. It broke all of our hearts, the whole locker room, it broke all of our hearts that that’s where the championship was being taken. Not anything to do with Brock, but because Kofi had worked so hard, and seeing someone work so hard for so long to get this opportunity taken away from him, what would they do to us?" Harwood said. ## To stay updated with all the latest combat sports news, add Sacnilk.com to your Google News feeds and follow us on Twitter.