Rick Boogs, now going by his real name Eric Bugenhagen, is a former WWE superstar who’s now staring on the revamped season of American Gladiator.
While he’s still jacked and kicking ass on the show, he recently sat down for an interview with Chris Van Vliet where he revealed that he doesn’t think he’s done with wrestling just yet.
When asked, he simply said “I don’t think so, man.” When asked if 2 and a half years ago he wasn’t sure, Rick responded with “I was a little soiled, sour flavor in my mouth.”
He went on to explain that he is more open to it now after years have passed and he’s gotten older.
“Yeah. I mean, as I get older and wiser. 3 years, you’ve almost graduated high school. That’s a freshman to a senior. Look at how much you’ve developed in that point in time. Or in college, baby-faced freshman to, like, grizzled, a real man. I’m going out to the real world. But I’m also glad, though, because if anything would have happened, it’s hard, man, pro wrestling is tough. What if I had a kink in my shoulder, I can’t do the tryout, I can’t do any push-ups. So I missed the try-out for American Gladiators because of that. Or what if I can go but I got a kink in my shoulder, and I can only do 6 push-ups instead of 100.”
Eric Bugenhagen is a former WWE superstar. You may know him as Rick Boogs. Now, he’s on the revamped series of American Gladiator. If there’s anyone that looks the part, it’s definitely him.
Recently, Eric sat down with Chris Van Vliet and was asked how he got onto the radar of American Gladiator. For him, he explained how he reached out himself.
“I just found an email address for a casting director that was involved in that. Emailed them, ‘Hey, my name is Eric Bugenhagen. I hoist, heft and heave mega loads.’ Sent some clips and stuff whatnot, told him what I’ve done in the past. They said, Okay, we’ll set you up with the Zoom call. So give me the Zoom call a couple of days later, and I don’t know what to expect. Luckily, I have the 20,000 hours of promo practice from the WWE Performance Center. If that Performance Center has done anything well, for me, I don’t know about anyone else, but grinding those promos in. Because I learned if you wanted to stand out in that business, you got to be different.”
When asked how he blew them away in the zoom call, Eric revealed that he actually first had to pitch a gimmick.
“First and foremost, I know you gotta have a gimmick. You gotta be recognizable. ‘Who is this guy?’ One sentence: Who is he? So what I pitched was, I’m The Max. I’m The Maximum. Maximum entertainment value, maximum intensity, right? So I said, ‘I am The Maximum, aka The Max, you will call me The Max.’ They asked me a bunch of questions about where I’m from, if you had 30 seconds or whatever, you just whooped someone’s ass, what would you say? That kind of stuff. So I felt like it was grand slam home run. But then months go by and I never hear back, and I’m like, wow, now I can see why WWE fired me. I just don’t have what it takes. But apparently, they were just extending. They wanted to be sure they had the cream of the crop.”
WWE Backlash is live this Saturday, May 9, kicking off at 6PM ET. But, for the first time ever, the first hour of Backlash will air on ESPN2. This is similar to what they do for WrestleMania this year, and now it’s rolling over to Backlash.
Last night on WWE RAW, it was announced that the heated rivalry between Seth Rollins and Bron Breakker will air on the first hour, as well as the United States Championship Match between Trick Williams and Sami Zayn.
The rest of the card will air on ESPN Unlimited, Netflix internationally. You can see the full card for the event on May 9, below.
WWE Backlash (5/9)
WWE World Heavyweight Championship: Roman Reigns (c) vs. Jacob Fatu
Danhausen & Mystery Partner vs. The Miz & Kit Wilson
IYO SKY vs. Asuka
John Cena to make an announcement
Seth Rollins vs. Bron Breakker (to air on ESPN2)
WWE United States Championship: Trick Williams (c) vs. Sami Zayn (to air on ESPN2)
LA Knight is a busy man outside of the ring. But, many fans were wondering what would be next for him after his WrestleMania victory over The Vision and Speed.
Well, sources indicated to Bodyslam+ that LA Knight was scheduled to have a short program with Gunther before the company pivoted to Gunther heading to SmackDown to challenge Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. It is currently unknown what Knight’s creative direction will now be but he is still with the company.
LA Knight is still in the mix with WWE right now, as Knight was in Minnesota over the weekend promoting SummerSlam including throwing out a pitch at the Minnesota Twins game.
This was first reported on Bodyslam+ and you could be the first to hear the news by subscribing to BodyslamPlus.Net.
The last few days have seen a whirlwind of discussion on WWE & TKO handing out pay cuts to their WWE superstars. Word emerged yesterday that a talent was recently asked to take a 50% pay cut and agreed to do so.
Earlier in the week it was revealed that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods of the New Day were also asked to take significant pay cuts, but declined, and have now parted ways with the company.
Today, Bodyslam+ first reported that sources indicated that TKO is asking multiple talent to restructure their contracts as a result of what they view as talent rate of production vs what they are being paid.
Another source indicated that TKO is looking to maximize revenue as the company is still currently in debt due to Endeavor’s past.
It’s unclear at this moment which exact talent were asked and who took said deal. Any updates will be provided first at BodyslamPlus.net.
On May 4th, 2026 WWE aired the 1,719th episode of Raw live in Omaha Nebraska inside CHI Health Center Omaha & can watch it on Netflix.
-Kicking off this week’s Raw with we head backstage and see Adam Pearce approach World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns in an effort to calm him down.
-Reigns then looks to make his way to the ring but Pearce stops him and tells him that Jacob Fatu has not arrived at the CHI Health Center Omaha just yet.
-Seth Rollins stares down Reigns and tells him that he’s in his way then makes his way to the ring.
-Bron Breakker attacks Rollins at the bottom of the entrance ramp and lifts him above his head.
-He sends Rollins crashing into the barricade with a Gorilla press but security and Adam Pearce hold back Breakker.
-Breakker fights through them and sends Rollins crashing into the ring steps then dumps him into the ring.
-Officials check on Rollins and escort Breakker to the back.
-We then head over to Judgment Day’s club house where Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan questions what Finn Balor was doing in there last Monday.
-She asks Roxanne Perez why Balor was talking to her and why she had to find out on the Netflix stream and Perez says she made it clear that she wanted nothing to do with Balor.
-She promises that she’s loyal to Morgan & Morgan responds by telling Perez that she believes in her.
-She makes Perez promise she won’t keep any more secrets from the rest of Judgment Day.
JD McDonagh defeated Finn Balor via Headbutt (11:44)
-We then head backstage where Jackie Redmond catches up with Seth Rollins to ask him if he’s still good to compete against Bron Breakker at Backlash. Rollins responds by telling her that he isn’t dead yet.
Tag Team Match Ethan Page & Rusev defeated Intercontinental Champion Penta & Je Von Evans via Fisherman’s Buster on Penta (10:43)
-Adam Pearce says his favorite days are when sure fire, can’t miss talent see their dreams come true by joining Raw or Smackdown.
-He says today is one of those days and throws it to a video highlighting some in ring moments from Sol Ruca’s career thus far before he introduces Ruca and she makes her way to the ring.
-Pearce congratulates Ruca and hands her the contract.
-Ruca looks at it and says it’s going to feel good when she signs the contract to officially become a member of the Raw roster.
-Before she can put pen to paper, Women’s Intercontinental Champion Becky Lynch’s music hits and she makes her way out.
-Lynch claims that she was told this was supposed to be her time and says Pearce illegally sanctioned a Women’s Intercontinental Title against Iyo Sky that she claims went against the parameters she set in her Open Challenge.
-Ruca cuts off Lynch by asking if she’s done but Lynch says she isn’t done.
-Ruca says not everything is about Lynch & Lynch says Ruca has to learn that everything is about her.
-Ruca says this isn’t about her and says she knows everything about Lynch’s career but she didn’t expect to find out that Lynch is exactly what everyone says she is when she met her: a rude, big headed bitch.
-She says it’s not just her saying it, but the New York Times & Sports Illustrated.
Lynch asks Pearce and the live crowd if they’re going to let Ruca talk to her like this then mockingly asks Ruca who she is.
-Ruca says if Lynch ever interrupts her, she’ll take her out and snatch her soul.
-She hands Pearce the contract she has signed and an angry Lynch clocks Pearce.
-Lynch swears it was an accident when Pearce yells at her and Ruca hits Lynch with a Sol Snatcher.
-Joe Hendry then makes his way to the ring and sings a song about Logan Paul.
-World Tag Team Champions The Vision interrupts Hendry with Logan Paul saying he can’t be fired because he’s the heart and soul of WWE.
-Hendry then continues on with his song and asks if Paul can be fired, prompting Austin Theory slides into the ring.
Joe Hendry defeated World Tag Team Champion Austin Theory via DQ (3:19)
-After the match The Vision fire off stomps on Hendry until Street Profits run out to the ring to fire off right hands on them and come to Hendry’s aid.
-Bron Breakker runs out to send Montez Ford crashing over the top rope and hits a spear and a German suplex to Angelo Dawkins.
-Seth Rollins pulls Breakker out of the ring and sends him crashing into the ring steps then fires off stomps on him and dumps him into the ring. He rains down right hands on Breakker and hits him with a Spear.
-We then head backstage where Raquel Rodriguez calls Women’s Tag Team Champions Brie Bella & Paige to Raw to face herself & Roxanne Perez while Judgment Day catches up with Jackie Redmond.
-Lyra Valkyria & Bayley interrupt & they are argue.
Oba Femi defeated Otis via Fall From Grace (1:49)
-We then head over to Iyo Sky & Asuka meeting ahead of their Backlash match in a tense verbal confrontation that ends with Asuka telling Sky she’s going to cut her out of her life this coming Saturday.
-Sky responds by telling Asuka she’s ready for her but Asuka spits blue mist in SKY’s eyes.
-This prompts Adam Pearce to run in and call for medical officials to check on Sky.
6 Man Tag Team Match Los Americanos Hermanos (Original El Grande, Julio & Bruto) defeated Los Americanos (El Grande, Bravo & Rayo) via Flying Headbutt on Bravo (8:36)
-World Heavyweight Champion Roman Reigns & Jacob Fatu signs the contract for their World Heavyweight Title match at Backlash.
If the reports about TKO pushing major talent to take 50 percent pay cuts are true, it is hard to see this as anything but a self-inflicted problem.
A recent report circulating online via PWInsider claims that a “pretty major” pushed star was asked to take a 50 percent cut and agreed to it. The name has not been confirmed, but the timing raised eyebrows, coming just before news involving Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods made headlines. Even without full confirmation, the idea alone is enough to send a message.
@WrestleOps aggregation of PWInsider’s report
And it is not a good one.
WWE has spent years presenting itself as a booming global brand. Massive TV deals. The big leagues. Packed arenas. Record-setting revenue. We hear it nearly every single PLE, and especially during WrestleMania. That does not line up with cutting your talents salary in half.You cannot sell growth while quietly asking the roster to take less. Fans notices this immediately. That contradiction is impossible to ignore.
Inside the locker room, a move like that changes everything. Wrestlers are already covering travel, gear, training and often medical costs as independent contractors. Their pay is not just income, it is what keeps the job sustainable. It’s what helps them be presented as the superstars that they are. Slashing their pay that much is not just business. It is personal. Not every wrestler you see on television live the luxurious lives as the top of the card main event talent.There are no private jets, no larger than life tour buses, and no entourage of staff to help with daily necessities.
It also comes at a time when talent actually has options. All Elite Wrestling is established. International promotions are viable. The independent scene is active. This is not an era where WWE can assume everyone will just stay put. Look at Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods for example.
We have seen what happens when leverage shifts. During the Monday Night Wars, competition drove salaries up because talent had choices. If pay cuts like this are real, WWE is handing that leverage right back.
The bigger issue is value. WWE is built on its performers. If those performers start to feel like they are being treated as replaceable, it shows. Morale sinks. Energy drops. Performances suffer. The product feels it. The fans feel it.
Maybe there is more to the story. Maybe nothing this extreme becomes policy. But even the perception of it is damaging. Does TKO care about the outrage on the internet? No. The WWE machine will continue on.
You cannot build a stronger company by telling your talent they are worth less.
The power should be with the talent, and hopefully more of them develop a spine like Kingston and Woods.
We all know professional wrestling is scripted. But its history is shaped by very real decisions, injuries and moments that cannot be undone. The bookers don’t have a crystal ball. One wrong booking call or unexpected turn can ripple across years of storytelling and change how fans remember an entire era. WWE, more than any company, has built its legacy on these turning points. Looking back, it is hard not to wonder how different things might feel today if even one of these moments had gone the other way.
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10. What if Nexus actually beat John Cena at SummerSlam 2010?
Nexus arrived as a fresh concept, but their loss to John Cena at Summer Slam 2010 cooled them off almost immediately. A victory could have established Wade Barrett as a defining villain of the era and given WWE a new wave of credible stars.
9. What if CM Punk never left in 2014?
CM Punk walked out in January 2014, just after the Royal Rumble, while still one of WWE’s most authentic voices. If he had stayed, WWE might have handled rising fan frustration in the mid-2010s differently and leaned more into the kind of storytelling audiences were demanding. Also, this would have a butterfly effect on All Elite Wrestling as well. I personally think he would have made the jump in 2019 out of frustration.
8. What if The Streak never ended at WrestleMania 30?
The decision for Brock Lesnar to defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania 30 remains one of the most shocking calls in company history. Protecting The Streak could have preserved a once-in-a-lifetime attraction and saved that moment for a younger star who needed it more. Did Brock need it? Absolutely not. Would a Bray Wyatt victory meant more? Without a doubt.
7. What if WCW bought WWE in 2001 instead?
I think about this very often. When WWE purchased World Championship Wrestling March 2001, it ended the Monday Night Wars. If the outcome had been reversed, the industry might have developed into a more competitive landscape instead of one company dominating for decades. Until 2019, WWE was an absolute monopoly. It is still most lucrative promotion, but with AEW, there is now a legit competitor and alternative. If WCW won, there would be no AEW, or even TNA.
6. What if Stone Cold never turned heel at WrestleMania X-Seven?
Stone Cold Steve Austin aligned with Vince McMahon at WrestleMania X-7 in April 2001, a move that clashed with fan expectations. Keeping Austin as a rebellious hero might have extended the peak of the Attitude Era and maintained stronger audience momentum.
5. What if John Cena turned heel during his peak years?
Between 2011 and 2013, fans loudly pushed for John Cena to turn heel. Pulling the trigger then could have refreshed his character and dramatically shifted WWE storytelling during a transitional era. We also would not have gotten the god awful heel run that was rushed during his retirement run in 2025.
4. What if Shawn Michaels never had to step away in 1998?
A serious back injury forced Shawn Michaels out after WrestleMania XIV in March 1998, sidelining him for four years. A healthy Michaels during that stretch could have produced major rivalries with The Rock and Austin, reshaping key Attitude Era storylines. Can you imagine four more years of prime HBK? Imagine Roman Reigns being gone for FOUR years.
3. What if Roman Reigns was accepted as a babyface from the start?
After TheShield split in 2014, Roman Reigns was quickly positioned as WWE’s next top star. He was shoved down fans throats at any given opportunity. Early fan acceptance might have avoided years of uneven booking and changed how WWE built its main event scene. Do we get a Tribal Chief? I don’t think so. Do we get a four year title run? Nope. Does Cody Rhodes finish his story? Absolutely not.
2. What if Bret Hart never left WWE in 1997?
The MontrealScrewjob at Survivor Series1997 forced Bret Hart out under controversial circumstances. Without it, the rise of the Mr. McMahon character and its rivalry with Austin may have unfolded very differently. The Attitude Era landscape would look MUCH different.
1. What if Owen Hart never died in 1999?
The tragedy at Over the Edge 1999 cut short the life and career of Owen Hart. His continued presence could have elevated an already stacked roster and further strengthened the Hart family’s place in wrestling history. To the fans of this generation who witnessed, or were just around to take this in at home, it will forever leave a black mark on WWE’s legacy. This isn’t about accolades and titles, it is about a father and husband that gave his life to do what he loved, and to entertain the fans. Children lost their father, a wife lost her soulmate, and the world lost a great man. Never forget Owen Hart.
In modern professional wrestling, dominance has become the standard. For the most part, champions are no longer meant to feel vulnerable. Instead, they are often presented as unstoppable forces who hold titles for months or even years. On paper, that sounds like a return to prestige. In practice, it has created a different kind of problem. Fans seem to think a title reign is a failure if not held for a lengthy amount of time.
Long title reigns used to mean something special. They were rare and signaled that a wrestler had reached a level above everyone else. Today, they are far more common, especially at the top of the card. The question is no longer whether long reigns add value. It is whether they are starting to take something away. In WWE, it seems as if long title reigns are used as a way to re-write history. “A New Era!”
The Case for Dominance
There is a reason promotions lean into long reigns. A dominant champion can elevate a title simply by holding it. When Roman Reigns carried the top championship in WWE for an extended period, it created a sense of importance around every defense. The title felt like the center of the show.
A long reign also helps define an era. Fans can look back and associate a stretch of time with one central figure. That kind of consistency is valuable in a business that often shifts quickly. It gives viewers a clear top star and a clear goal for everyone chasing them.
There is also the argument that modern wrestling needs fewer title changes. Weekly television and constant content can make championships feel less important if they switch hands too often. A long reign can counter that by restoring the idea that winning a title is difficult.
The Predictability Problem
The downside is just as clear. When a champion holds a title for too long, outcomes start to feel obvious. Fans go into matches expecting the champion to win, not wondering if they might lose. It immediately kills curiosity. That predictability can drain tension from even the biggest matches on the card.
It also highlights how different today’s booking philosophy is compared to past eras. Some of the biggest stars in wrestling history did not need lengthy title reigns to feel important. The Rock, arguably one of the greatest to ever do it, had multiple world title runs, but many of them were relatively short. Titles changed hands more frequently, yet the championship still felt meaningful because the outcome was never guaranteed. Call me a boomer, but today’s fans would not survive the wrestling world 20 years ago.
That sense of unpredictability made every defense feel urgent. A challenger was not just filling a spot. They had a real chance. Today, a challenger might be built up for weeks only to fall short in a result that feels inevitable. Over time, that pattern can make it harder for fans to stay invested.
Collateral Damage on the Roster
Another issue is what happens to everyone else. When one wrestler sits firmly at the top for an extended period, it limits opportunities for others to break through. Challengers come and go, but few are allowed to truly rise.
In earlier eras, even short title reigns could create new stars. A wrestler might win the championship briefly and gain credibility that lasted long after the loss. Now, with fewer title changes, those moments are harder to create.
This can leave the upper midcard crowded with talent that feels stuck. They are presented as contenders, but rarely as equals. Over time, that gap becomes harder to close. One thing I would like to mention is the recent Darby Allin title reign. At the time of this editorial, Allin has had the AEW World Title for two weeks. He has already faced two “mid card” wrestlers in Tommaso Ciampa and Brody King, and given them the spot light in the main event scene, making them both feel like legit contender’s.
Finding the Balance
The solution is not to abandon long title reigns altogether. They still have a place in modern wrestling. The key is balance.
Promotions need to be willing to surprise their audience. That does not mean constant title changes, but it does mean recognizing when a moment calls for one. A well-timed switch can create excitement that carries forward.
It is also important to build multiple credible challengers at once. When more than one opponent feels like a real threat, matches become less predictable. Even a long reign can feel fresh if the outcome is not obvious.
The Bigger Picture
Professional wrestling has always been fluid. Trends rise, peak, and eventually shift. Long title reigns are currently in a dominant phase, driven by the desire to create prestige and stability.
But prestige without unpredictability can feel hollow. Dominance without risk can feel repetitive.
The challenge for promotions is not choosing between long reigns and short ones. It is making sure that no matter how long a champion holds a title, fans still believe it could end at any time.
“Don’t forget to smile in any situation. As long as you are alive, there will be better things later, and there will be many.” — Eiichiro Oda
Often in stories, I appreciate the funny moments. Bright, whimsical, wholesome, and full of light amid times of darkness and harsh realities. It makes those serious moments hit harder and reinforces that they do not last. Not so long as love and joy are to be found. That’s why the shock of New Day’s departure from WWE in 2026 struck wrestling fans so hard. Their impact is undeniable. Unforgettable. And now it reaches its dawn; night came without most knowing the moon circling its eternal orbit. On May 2, 2025, BodySlam’s own Cory Hayes and Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that New Day would mutually part ways with WWE.
For over a decade, the trio of Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E entertained fans. Sure, it took them a moment to find their identity, but when they did, something magical happened. There was a chemistry, a fire in three men who forged a brotherhood that brought laughs, tears, and memories even in the darkest of times.
All three men were long-tenured. Their history is well-documented. Starting in 2014 with a gospel gimmick, New Day transitioned to a trio of goofballs who nerded out about anime, video games, and big meaty men slapping meat. Yet, they achieved greatness outside of the jokes.
Fans eventually responded to this. They chanted “New Day sucks!”, which eventually transitioned to “New Day Rocks!” Over the years, New Day became a fixture in the company, where fans formed a strong connection. Woods would take advantage of this with a trombone to add an instrument to the crowd’s lyrics. Laughter would echo with every innuendo, pun, and joke. Audiences would join in with their catchphrases.
From 2015 to 2016, the group held the WWE Tag Team Champions. Dethroning Tyson Kidd and Cesaro on the April 26 edition of the 2015 Extreme Rules became a huge moment for the stable. There, they would hold a record-breaking reign of 483 days thanks to Cesaro and Sheamus at 2016’s Roadblock: End of the Line on December 18. The Usos would surpass this reign on the November 11, 2022, episode of SmackDown. The Samoan brothers held the title for a 622-day reign.
They’d continue onward to have an exciting run as the SmackDown Tag Team Champions, with wars against The Bludgeon Brothers, The Dudley Boyz, The Bar, Gallows and Anderson, and most notably, The Usos. The future Bloodline members had an intense rivalry with E, Woods, and Kingston, with their 2017 Hell in a Cell Match at the similarly named event being a standout. When asked about memorable Hell in a Cell bouts, many fans will likely point you to this one, outside of the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Eras.
Credit: WWE
Considering the high unpopularity of the 2018-2022 era WWE, it’s remarkable that New Day had incredible moments that shone through the murk of bad booking and lazy creative. These years left many with a feeling that WWE was anti-fan. Though this sentiment hasn’t changed, especially in the company’s current climate, WWE allowed fans this one hope.
KofiMania.
After a heated Gauntlet Match on February 12, 2019, the veteran Kofi Kingston took part in a six-man Gauntlet Match. Due to an injury that derailed the originally planned contender, Mustafa Ali, Kingston was slotted into what was going to be a simple Elimination Chamber Match a week later. Eliminating WWE Champion Daniel Bryan in an upset, Kingston’s hope diminished against the monstrous Samoa Joe. Squeaking by with a narrow elimination, Kingston suffered at the hands of the sore loser when AJ Styles came to his rescue.
Then, something beautiful happened.
Styles pleaded with Kingston that there would be no shame in forfeiting his spot in the gauntlet. He’d still make it to Elimination Chamber, he’d still be in the match. Kofi pushed back. Eleven years. He’d waited for this moment for eleven years. His voice quaked with something dissimilar to rage or pain; spirit coursed his very veins until the Phenomenal One acquiesced. They battled until Styles submitted him with a Calf Crusher. Ultimately, Kingston tapped in, as Big E and Xavier Woods helped him to the back.
Kingston, despite the setback, had insane, insane momentum behind him as fans roared for his achievements and booed his setbacks. To me, this was the moment KofiMania hooked me. Right there, from the get-go. The Elimination Chamber Match, the subsequent gauntlet matches, and social media promos from Big E and Xavier Woods, and the win over WWE Champion Daniel Bryan at WrestleMania 35, all from this moment.
That emotional win at Mania will stick with fans forever, especially those watching in the moment. Tears flowing from Xavier Woods, Big E beaming, Kofi overwhelmed with both emotion and sweat. Even his children joined him in the ring.
The less said about how his reign was handled, let alone ended, the better.
Big E’s eventual title ascension proved to be just as hopeful and inspirational when he dashed Seth Rollins’s Money in the Bank aspirations with a Big Ending. He’d then grab the briefcase and fight to contain his emotions as he celebrated. He’d later cash it in on Bobby Lashley for the WWE Championship on the September 13, 2021, episode of Raw to great success.
The less said about how his reign was handled, let alone ended, like Kingston’s, the better.
Tragedy would strike on WrestleMania 38, when he suffered a botched overhead belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland. This resulted in a broken neck, with fractures to his vertebrae. To date, he’s gone on to say that he’s effectively retired from pro wrestling action.
Alone again, Kingston and Woods marched on. They’d cause a stir of controversy on the heels of 2022’s NXT Deadline. Unseating Pretty Deadly as NXT Tag Team Champions, New Day thus became WWE Tag Team Triple Crown Champions.
Over the subsequent years, Kings and Woods grew progressively at odds with each other. From Karrion Kross and The Final Testament to Oddysey Jones and the LWO, it was clear they weren’t as communicative. Week after week, they’d bicker, and things weren’t as funny or lighthearted. Woods and Kingston brought out unbridled vitriol, soon to bubble over.
The pair agreed in December to hold a 10th anniversary celebration of the team’s formation. There, they mourned Big E’s absence and stated that they’ve grown apart. Big E, who’d been mostly seen on pre-shows and interviews, joined them. The former WWE Champion begged them to stay together, that he’d join them as manager until he’s ever cleared. For Kingston and Woods, it was far, far too late. He could have come back at any moment, but he chose to leave it behind until they were about to leave it behind. No, they wouldn’t allow it. Effectively turning heel, Kingston and Woods evicted Big E from the group. Albeit this excommunication, E had small solace, knowing his brothers would remain together.
The New Day, sans Big E, won their last WWE title together at WrestleMania 41, Night One, from War Raiders. Woods and Kingston held the World Tag Team Championships for 72 days before losing them to Finn Balor and JD McDonagh of the Judgement Day on the June 30, 2025, episode of Raw.
Taking Grayson Waller under their tutelage, Kingston and Woods simply existed for a time, mostly in backstage segments, before finally departing from WWE mutually on May 2, 2026.
So ends the New Day.
It’s been bittersweet writing this up. All of the bright moments, the levity and joy these three men brought, I’ve enjoyed reliving. The New Day’s Dragon Ball Z-inspired gear at WrestleMania 32 was forever made iconic with their giant box of Booty-O’s. Their reaction to Xavier Woods falling prey to a Stone Cold Stunner by “Stone Cold” Steve Austin at the same event. Their hilarious back-and-forth promo with The Rock. The wins, the losses, and the everything in between.
They were guaranteed smiles from crowds and viewers at home. That connection isn’t easy for most to establish, but they made it seem so effortless. Moreover, they were outspoken on their stances on current events, such as Hulk Hogan’s return to WWE or the Black Lives Matter movement. Additionally, their feuds in 2017-18 injected life into WWE’s tag team division, particularly their rivalry with The Usos.
Considering these accolades and achievements and reputation, the fact that fans wanted so much more than the company had been willing to give to New Day is a testament to the stable’s unwavering power. I attribute this to the human story of this, told through comedy, tragedy, heartbreak, and glory. In a world where things are made corporate for the sake of content, there was art, there was feeling, and damn it all to hell, there was soul.
Wherever Kofi and Xavier go, I hope they find great fun and success in it. Personally and selfishly, I’d love to see dream matches in AEW against The Young Bucks, The Rascalz, RPG Vice, and more. They are quite well-suited to the company’s PWG-esque tags and multi-man matches. Away from the lens of WWE, I’m curious to see how they’d fare. Of course, if they run the independent route, they have the means to comfortably do so. Either way, I support what they and Big E do from here on out, together or separate.
Credit: WWE
In any day’s cycle, there’s a dawn and a dusk. New Day just so happened to eclipse its twilight.
But it’s not the end, never the end. When night comes and goes, and the moon dips beneath the sea, the morning will come.
