Four WWE superstars are stepping into the world of tabletop role-playing as Dimension 20: Titan Takedown brings professional wrestling to the realm of Dungeons & Dragons.
Streaming platform Dropout has unveiled the first trailer for the highly anticipated crossover season, featuring WWE stars Bayley, Chelsea Green, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston.
The five-part series, led by Dimension 20’s game master Brennan Lee Mulligan, debuts on April 2—just weeks before WrestleMania.
A Clash of Wrestling and Mythology
Set in ancient Athens, Titan Takedown transforms the WWE stars into “righteous wrestlers” battling for glory in an epic in-universe event. Each performer will step into a new fantasy persona:
Bayley portrays Thea Kitterloo, a powerful minotaur barbarian.
Chelsea Green takes on the role of Tabatha, a cunning tabaxi rogue.
Xavier Woods, a longtime D&D fan, plays Julia Mortem, a disciplined monk.
Kofi Kingston embodies King Adonis Thanaformus, adding royal flair to the adventure.
A New Frontier for Dimension 20
While Dimension 20 has featured guest players from Critical Role and The Adventure Zone, this marks the first time the series has enlisted professional athletes as players. The crossover follows the success of Dungeons and Drag Queens, the show’s first season to feature non-D&D players, which recently wrapped its second installment.
Release Date and Streaming Details
Dimension 20: Titan Takedown premieres exclusively on Dropout on April 2, with new episodes releasing every Wednesday for four weeks.
Kofi Kingston isn’t holding back. The former WWE Champion took to social media in a fiery video, ripping into WWE fans who questioned his claim that he has been with the company longer than Rey Mysterio. In an unapologetic and blunt rant, Kingston called out “keyboard commandos” and “smart fans” for relying on Wikipedia and Google instead of doing “real” research.
Kingston doubled down on his statement, breaking down the numbers to prove his point. While Mysterio debuted with WWE in 2002, he took a hiatus from 2014 to 2018. Kingston, on the other hand, signed with WWE in 2006 and has remained an active competitor ever since. To further back himself up, Kingston revealed match statistics:
“As of today, February 19, 2025, Rey Mysterio has had 682 televised matches with WWE. You know how many I’ve had? 886. I have spent more time in a WWE ring than Rey Mysterio, which means that I have been here longer than Rey Mysterio—like I said.”
But it wasn’t just the numbers that caught attention—it was Kingston’s attitude. His tone throughout the video was confrontational, and he ended it by directly insulting the WWE Universe:
“Do you feel as dumb as we think you are? … It’s a rhetorical question. The only answer is yes. Y’all dumb, man.”
Reactions to the video are split, with some fans cheering on Kingston’s darker attitude, while others miss the feel-good New Day we’ve grown to love after all these years. We’re hoping someone can talk some sense into Kingston and Woods one of these days.
In a surprising revelation, former WWE SmackDown head writer Brian James admitted that he initially pushed for Big E to win the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 instead of Kofi Kingston. Speaking on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, James reflected on the decision and why he’s glad he was proven wrong.
“I was wrong. I didn’t realize how deep Kofi’s connection was with the fans. I’ve never been so happy to be wrong,” James confessed.
At the time, James believed Big E was the best choice to be WWE’s next major star. However, a member of his writing team convinced him otherwise, pointing out the emotional investment fans had in Kingston’s journey. The moment culminated in one of the most celebrated victories in WWE history, with Kingston defeating Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship.
While James initially questioned the decision, he now recognizes that it was the right move.
“Kofi won the title at WrestleMania, and nobody can ever take that away.”
Big E would go on to have his own championship moment years later, proving that both men were destined for greatness.
Kofi Kingston has shown no signs of making amends with his mother over the holidays after what transpired between the two on WWE Raw. During this week’s episode, Kingston mother disapproved of her son and Xavier Woods turning on Big E and walked out when Kofi requested a hug.
On X, Kingston made clear that the issues with his mother are far from over. The former WWE Champion uploaded photos of himself alongside his wife and children as well as his father, celebrating the Christmas season. While Kofi’s mother was present, she was scrubbed out of a photo, making it clear he no longer considers her a part of his family.
Kingston’s issues with his mother are just the latest example of people turning on the New Day given what transpired with Big E. On Raw, Kingston and Woods attempted to align with Dominik Mysterio, a figure notorious for his own betrayal of his father, Rey Mysterio. Despite admitting his disdain for Big E, Dominik criticized The New Day, claiming their actions went too far even for him.
Rey Mysterio also met with the pair, and offered them a place back in the WWE locker room if they apologized for what they’d done. However, Kingston and Woods dismissed the idea, prompting Rey to warn them that “New Day Sucks” chants is something the pair should get used to hearing.
Mustafa Ali has opened up about his injury that led to Kofi Kingston becoming WWE Champion.
The former 205 Live star was set to compete in the 2019 Elimination Chamber match for WWE Championship. Kingston however, replaced Ali in the match due to an injury. While Kofi did not win the bout, his performance in the match led to fans rallying behind him for another opportunity at the title. This eventually led to him winning the first World Championship of his career at WrestleMania 35.
Ali talked about the missed opportunity during a new interview with Chris Van Vliet. He first discussed how Kofi is a really nice guy behind the scenes and noted that the two became really good friends after this series of events. Mustafa Ali called KofiMania a ‘beautiful gift’ but admitted that he felt a little jealous at not being able to compete in the bout:
“Now, no way am I comparing, but as a competitor, of course, there’s some jealousy, right? I’m watching. I’m like, man, could you imagine what a healthy Ali could do in the Elimination Chamber? But then I go and look and I’m so mad at myself. I’m like, if only I didn’t take that bump at the live event. I’m sitting there kind of like, I could have, I would have been fine.”
The former WWE star noted how his wife reminded him about the importance of his health and at the end of the day, he’s happy that he wasn’t allowed to compete with his injury:
“At the end of the day, I’m healthy, I’m happy. Everything works. I’m good. My brain isn’t mush. WWE did the right thing. They protected me for the day. You gotta protect these athletes from themselves, because we have that thing. We get hit, we get up. The instinct is, I’m good.”
Apart from this Ali also talked about being part of the Money In the Bank ladder match which was won by Brock Lesnar, being eliminated from Royal Rumble by Nia Jax and more.
Kofi Kingston has blamed the fans after his own mother rejected his attempt at a hug during this week’s WWE Raw from Boston’s TD Garden. During the show, Kingston and Xavier Woods faced heavy boos as they attempted to justify their betrayal of Big E earlier this month during the ten-year celebration of The New Day’s legacy in WWE.
Kingston noticed his mother at ringside and publicly criticized the crowd for their hostile reaction, particularly in front of his family. However, when the former WWE Champion sought a hug, his mother rebuked him and walked away, leaving Kingston visibly stunned.
Kingston took to X to express his frustration. Rather than reflect on his actions, he doubled down on blaming the fans for the night’s events, declaring that he would “never forgive” them for the incident.
The family drama was only part of The New Day’s turbulent night. Later, Kingston and Woods attempted to align with Dominik Mysterio, a figure notorious for his own betrayal of his father, Rey Mysterio. Despite admitting his disdain for Big E, Dominik criticized The New Day, claiming their actions went too far even for him.
The pair also ran into Rey Mysterio, who last week kicked The New Day out of the locker room. Rey extended an olive branch, suggesting that a sincere apology could help restore their standing among their peers. However, Kingston and Woods dismissed the idea, prompting Rey to warn them that “New Day Sucks” chants might be their new reality.
As unlikely as it may seem in the late stages of 2024, New Day is suddenly one of the most buzzworthy acts in wrestling once again. Indeed, a decade in, the team far surpassed what anyone could have expected when Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E first assembled under an ill-defined gospel gimmick Vince McMahon tried to foist upon them.
New Day went on to enjoy a meteoric rise before struggling over most of the last four years as injuries, bad luck, and sheer duration all caught up to them.
The prevailing belief was that the team was going to split up for good as Kingston and Woods arguing with one another paved the road to their advertised ten-year celebration on Raw. The two men rallying and collectively turning on Big E was a sharp turn, officially marking the start of a new chapter. At this inflection point, it’s worth looking back on some of the unit’s greatest accomplishments in its first ten years together.
New Day Facilitated KofiMania And Big E’s Cash In
(WWE)
With two out of three members of New Day winning the WWE Championship, they have a valid claim to be in the conversation among the most successful factions ever in WWE. Kofi Kingston’s surge of popularity in 2019 that carried him to WrestleMania 35 was very much linked to New Day—the team that had kept him relevant and working featured matches. Indeed, while Kingston earned his moment, it’s telling that Xavier Woods and Big E winning a tag team gauntlet was the angle chosen to finally get their partner to his ‘Mania title shot.
Two and half years later, Big E would have his crowning moment as he, too, won the WWE Championship, arriving at the big win via Money in the Bank cash-in. New Day was less involved in this triumph given E had been separated from his teammates via a brand draft, only to briefly reunite when he won the title. Just the same, there’s reason to believe E may not have been in this position—or perhaps even under WWE contract anymore—without the successes he’d enjoyed with New Day protecting him from getting lost in the shuffle.
New Day Had The Longest WWE Tag Team Championship Reign Of All Time
New Day win SmackDown Tag Team Titles at WWE Battleground 2017 (Photo Credit: WWE.com)
While world title glory was the high-water mark for New Day in its first decade, the team also enjoyed the single longest WWE Tag Team Championship reign of all time at 483 days, surpassing a record Demolition had established twenty-eight years earlier.
More than reigning by default when there wasn’t a strong division around them, New Day elevated their titles, putting on excellent matches and entertaining fans with their antics. While reigns to follow shored up their spot as an all-time great team, this was the one that immediately put Big E, Xavier Woods, and Kofi Kingston in the conversation among WWE’s greatest tag teams ever.
New Day Was Part Of The Best Non-Singles Hell In A Cell Match Of All Time
(Photo: WWE)
Hell in a Cell has an uneven history. For every classic like Mankind facing Shawn Michaels or The Undertaker, there are throwaway encounters in the Cell like The Undertaker vs. The Big Boss Man at WrestleMania 15, Triple H’s slog with Kevin Nash, or CM Punk trying to pull a decent Cell match out of Ryback.
There have been good tag team Hell in a Cell bouts like DX vs. Legacy and good multi-man affairs like the main event of Armageddon 2000. The best of the best of these non-one-on-one matches, though, has to go to New Day vs. The Usos in 2017. The two teams were creative, brutal, and had a long, compelling feud to pay off.
New Day Hosted WrestleMania 33
The New Day hosts WrestleMania 33 (Photo: WWE)
At WrestleMania 31, New Day was a new tag team, and the component members filled totally forgettable spots in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. It’s telling that just two years later, they were tasked with hosting WrestleMania 33.
The record of WrestleMania hosts has grown a bit checkered and increasingly random, but at that point, it was an honor that had only previously been bestowed upon The Rock at WrestleMania 27 and Hulk Hogan at WrestleMania 30.
New Day hadn’t achieved the legendary status of their predecessors, but trusting them with this role bespoke that they were one of the most popular acts in the company and WWE trusted their abilities as entertainers on the mic enough to make them the recurring stars of the show. Needless to say, they delivered.
New Day Turning On Big E Was An Instant Classic Moment
(Photo: WWE)
While there’s a bit of recency bias in ranking such a new moment in the top five, there’s little question Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston turning on Big E represented one of the greatest things the New Day crew has ever pulled off.
The trio tapped into all the emotional investment they’d built up from fans during the preceding ten years to create an incredible emotional charge. Fans watching one of wrestling’s most special bonds crumble before their eyes was truly one of the most heartbreaking scenes in WWE history and has charted a new course for Kingston and Woods as a genuinely special heel act.
The New Day’s split during the December 2, 2024, episode of WWE Raw shocked fans, and marked the end of one of wrestling’s most popular factions as it was known for years. The ten-year celebration of the group saw Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods betray Big E, claiming they wanted nothing to do with him and claimed he’d never be cleared to wrestle.
During an appearance on The Battleground Podcast, Kofi addressed the aftermath of the split while refusing to disclose the group’s future plans.
“None of those details are ones I’m willing to share with you, you know what I’m saying? Every Monday night—find out.”
Every interview since Raw that Kingston has been a part of, he’s been asked about the breakup, a fact Kingston called a “good thing.” While Kofi avoided specifics, the former WWE World Champion expressed excitement about what lies ahead for the group.
“[Our future is] littered with uncertainty—in the best way possible. I think the opportunities for us are going to start ringing in.”
While Kofi’s comments keep fans guessing, one thing is certain: The New Day is ready to make an impact, now as heels. Stay tuned to SEScoops to see if the teased opportunities do indeed ‘ring in’ for Kingston and Woods, now that they’ve left Big E behind.
WWE CCO Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque couldn’t have been happier with the New Day’s split on Raw as it highlighted the emotional investment from fans. Speaking at WWE’s recent media event with Netflix. Levesque said he was “so happy for those guys” and addressed the raw emotion behind the segment.
“It’s those moments. It’s why we do what we do. Rock says it all the time, it’s that electricity, that connection with the people. There’s no greater feeling than that.”
The segment saw Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods turn on Big E, declaring that they wanted nothing to do with their now-former ally. The emotional segment instantly went viral, with The New Day and Big E both trending shortly after the segment aired on Monday.
It wasn’t just online where fans shared their shock over what happened. During the segment, WWE’s camera crew cut to the crowd several times, including a viral shot of a distraught fan in the crowd.
“We couldn’t have comically asked for a better shot of somebody selling that storyline for us.”
Kingston and Woods have now been listed as heels on WWE’s internal roster, PW Insider has reported. With emotions among fans still running high, fans are eager to see what’s next from Kingston and Woods, and whether Big E, who has been out of action since March 2022, will be able to get payback on the two men he’s considered brothers for the past decade.
During the December 2, 2024, edition of WWE Raw, The New Day as fans knew it came to an end, with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods betraying Big E. The duo argued that if Big E cared about them, he would have been back already from his broken neck injury. Woods claimed that Big E will never be medically cleared and continued to berate his ‘brother’ alongside Kofi Kingston.
This heartwrenching scene instantly went viral on social media, with several wrestlers sharing their thoughts on the matter. Michin, whose sister Kris is dating Big E, is ready to jump Woods and Kingston with her sister after what was said.
Whoa whoa whoa now… @MissYim2 we gotta jump em now.
Kris Yim also shared her anger over what happened. During the segment, Woods claimed that Big E didn’t care about the New Day, but was focusing on his new projects, new desk job, and his new girlfriend.
HEEEEEYYY ? now why they gotta bring me into this?!? They really starting to piss me off
The impact of this heel turn hasn’t just been felt in WWE. AEW’s Anthony Bowens wanted to see how everyone’s days were going, but now realizes it wasn’t the right time to ask.
Now, The New Day as fans knew it has ended, leaving questions as to what the future for all three Superstars look like. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on Woods, Kingston, and Big E after the shocking betrayal on Raw.
Monday’s WWE Raw took fans on an emotional rollercoaster as Raw GM Adam Pearce welcomed Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods to the ring. The segment, filled with props and nostalgic moments, celebrated a decade of The New Day’s success.
Woods expressed gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support over the years, while Kofi reflected on their incredible journey, emphasizing how they couldn’t have achieved their success without the WWE Universe. But the mood shifted as Woods began to hint at unresolved tensions, assuring the fans that their love and appreciation weren’t to blame for what was coming next.
Before they could continue, Big E made his surprise return, receiving a thunderous ovation. He thanked the fans for their support during his recovery, but his tone grew serious as he addressed the discord between Kofi and Woods.
Big E reminded his teammates of their humble beginnings, recalling how their group was born out of desperation—when Kofi considered retirement and he and Woods were on the verge of being released. Big E recounted their unbreakable bond, from comforting him during his neck injury to supporting each other through life’s toughest moments.
With heartfelt words, Big E revealed his plans to serve as their manager until he is medically cleared to return to the ring. However, his declaration was met with skepticism and frustration from his longtime partners.
Woods questioned Big E’s timing, accusing him of abandoning them during their struggles. Kofi joined in, pointing out that other wrestlers like Stone Cold Steve Austin, Kurt Angle, and Edge returned after similar injuries, while Big E seemingly chose new opportunities over reuniting with them.
Big E defended his absence, reminding them of the severity of his neck injury, but his words fell on deaf ears. Woods and Kofi expressed their anger and disappointment, with Woods calling Big E a burden and Kofi accusing him of prioritizing himself over the team.
The segment ended on a somber note as Big E sought reconciliation, asking for a hug. Kofi refused, and Big E walked away, leaving the ring. In his absence, Woods and Kofi embraced, vowing to stick together despite the cracks in their friendship.
This emotionally charged reunion left fans wondering if The New Day can ever truly mend their bond or if this marks the end of their storied partnership.
The New Day stands as WWE’s longest-reigning tag team champions, a remarkable achievement that only scratches the surface of their revolutionary impact on professional wrestling. What began as a struggling three-man team in 2014 evolved into one of wrestling’s most successful factions, with Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E transforming themselves from audience punching bags into record-breaking champions and cultural phenomena.
Their decade-long journey represents one of wrestling’s most compelling reinvention stories. After facing brutal rejection from fans during their initial run as positive-minded babyfaces, The New Day made a pivotal decision that would alter their trajectory forever: they embraced the negativity and transformed it into their greatest strength.
The group’s initial struggles in late 2014 quickly gave way to innovation when they turned heel in April 2015. Fans’ mocking chants of “New Day Sucks” became part of their identity, and within months, they captured their first WWE Tag Team Championship from Tyson Kidd and Cesaro at Extreme Rules. This victory marked the beginning of an unprecedented run of success.
Their mastery of entertainment reached new heights during their second championship reign, which began at SummerSlam 2015. The 483-day reign set a WWE record and introduced iconic elements like Francesca the trombone and Booty-O’s cereal, transforming what could have been simple comedy props into memorable pieces of wrestling history.
The faction’s influence extended beyond tag team competition. In 2019, Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 35 marked a historic moment, while 2021 saw Big E claim his own WWE Championship and Xavier Woods win the King of the Ring tournament. These individual achievements demonstrated the group’s ability to succeed both collectively and separately.
WWE
Despite facing challenges and brand splits threatening their unity, The New Day’s bond has remained unbreakable. However, tragedy struck in March 2022 when Big E suffered a career-threatening broken neck during a match on SmackDown. The horrific injury occurred when a belly-to-belly suplex went wrong, fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. While Big E has maintained his characteristically positive outlook throughout his recovery, his in-ring future remains uncertain, marking one of the darkest moments in the group’s decade-long journey.
Their resilience continues to show through recent storylines, with Kingston and Woods engaging in a compelling program with The Final Testament, proving their ability to remain relevant and evolve after a decade of competition.
The numbers tell an impressive story: 12 WWE-branded tag team championships and numerous individual accolades. However, The New Day’s true legacy lies in their ability to consistently reinvent themselves while maintaining their core identity. From embracing fan negativity to pioneering new forms of wrestling entertainment, they’ve created a blueprint for longevity in modern professional wrestling.
The New Day’s decade of dominance in WWE may never have happened had Xavier Woods followed backstage advice to avoid Kofi Kingston. Today marks ten years since the New Day’s first match with WWE which saw them win a six-man-tag on SmackDown.
On WWE’s YouTube channel, Woods, Kofi, and Big E reflected on their time together and how The New Day got started. Despite becoming one of the most popular groups, Woods shared that he was warned to keep his distance from Kofi Kingston.
“My entire WWE career, I’d been told to stay away from Kofi. Not because he’s bad, but because we’re very similar.
“in wrestling, you’ve got to carve out your own spot and they say, ‘If Kofi’s doing this and we automatically see you and imagine that you’re kinda a secondary Kofi, that’s not going to be good for you.’ And so I always stayed away from him.”
Woods shared that he doesn’t see himself and Kofi as similar and that it was a choice by he and Big E to bring Kingston into the New Day. The decision clearly worked as the group has become a staple of WWE TV, with Kingston and Big E both holding the WWE Championship.
A ten-year celebration of The New Day will take place on Raw, though comes amid growing tensions between Kingston and Woods. The pair have been unable to get on the same page for months now, leaving fans to speculate that tensions will boil over in a matter of days.
Fans are hopeful that Big E, who remains out of action due to his neck injury, will be able to smooth things over during the coming celebration. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The New Day and whether the group can get back on the same page, or if the damage to the friendship between Kofi and Woods proves to be irreparable.
Tensions have reached an all-time high between New Day teammates Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston before the anniversary of the group’s in-ring debut.
The duo fought The Alpha Academy on the November 25 Raw. Kingston was in the ring to begin the action at the start, but Woods tagged himself in.
Otis imminently levelled both the New Day stars and he then took out Kingston with The Caterpillar. Tozawa tagged in and delivered a senton to Woods for the win.
Woods was very frustrated with the loss and he started chewing out Kingston after the match. The two continued arguing all the way to the back.
Their relationship reached an all-time low as both stars started taking personal shots at each other. Woods claimed that Kofi only got the world title opportunity because of him and that he ‘pissed it all away’ in 6 seconds in the loss against Brock Lesnar.
Kingston wasn’t behind in the war of words. He said Xavier wasn’t good enough to be a world champion like him and Big E. He reminded the 38-year-old that it was Woods who extended the offer to form a group and not the other way around.
This segment comes before the announced 10-year anniversary celebration for the 12-time Tag Team Champions which WWE has set for the December 2 episode of Raw. The tag team made their official in-ring debut on November 28, 2014.
The storyline seems to be building toward the TV return of Big E. The big question is what role the former NXT Champion will play when he finally returns to the company.
For nearly a decade, The New Day has been one of the most beloved and enduring teams in all of professional wrestling. From hosting WrestleMania 33 (2017) to their very own Booty O’s cereal brand, the group has done it all. What is the secret to their longevity?
Speaking to the New York Post, Kofi Kingston said that the group has stayed strong since 2014 because their friendship is real.
“a lot of tag teams get thrown together… All of us, we really strive to push our brothers, to lift our brothers up. That’s what The New Day is all about. It’s all about brotherhood. And we really believe that to our core.”
In addition to their accolades as a trio and in tag team combinations, each New Day member has achieved success independently. Kofi and Big E each won the WWE Championship (in 2019 and 2021, respectively). While Xavier Woods has yet to hold singles gold, he won King of the Ring in 2021, a concept Woods himself advocated to return.
Kingston acknowledged that he and Woods haven’t exactly been seeing eye-to-eye as of late, but said such issues are ‘typical’ with sibling relationships, as he considers the New Day to be a brotherhood.
Latest On Big E
Since March 2022, the New Day has been down a member, as Big E has been out of action with a broken neck. Kingston explained that Big E literally came within an inch of his life, as even the slightest of changes could’ve made his situation so much worse.
“If his neck had broken one way, a degree, he would have had a stroke. If he would have broken it a degree, the other way, he would have been paralyzed a degree.”
It has been “motivating and inspiring” to see Big E get to where he is mentally, as the powerhouse has routinely displayed the New Day’s signature optimism since the unfortunate accident. Kingston even said that its easy to forget Big E was ever injured in the first place, such is the positivity of his fellow ex-WWE Champion.
The Odyssey Jones Exit
Earlier this year, WWE attempted to bring Odyssey Jones into the fold, seemingly as a Big E replacement, though that didn’t work out. Jones was removed over domestic violence allegations, an act that left Kingston and Xavier Woods having to adapt.
“Once Odyssey was out of the mix, we just had to figure out a way to pivot and keep the story going and keep on moving forward, because, as they say, the show must go on.”
A future episode of Monday Night Raw will be dedicated to The New Day, despite the ongoing tensions prominent in the faction. In a WWE Raw Exclusive, Raw General Manager Adam Pearce told Kofi Kingston that the upcoming show will celebrate ten years of The New Day.
“This year, ten years as New Day. It’s time to celebrate, man. You guys are one of the most decorated tag teams in WWE history. Because of that, if it’s cool with guys, I actually wanted to dedicate a special episode of Raw to celebrating you. An entire episode, if it’s cool with you guys.”
Kingston said it was a great idea, but admitted that he and Xavier Woods are going through a rough patch right now. Nevertheless, the former WWE Champion remained confident that everything would be alright when the anniversary comes around.
It was in November 2014 that WWE began airing vignettes for Kingston, Woods, and Big E, which is when they officially debuted their ‘The New Day’ moniker. The trio had their in-ring debut as a group during the November 28, 2014, episode of SmackDown, where they defeated Curtis Axel, Heath Slater, and Titus O’Neil. If Pearce plans to host the New-Day dedicated show close to the anniversary, the options are either Monday, November 25, or Monday, December 2.
The New Day has shown signs of dissension this year, and with Big E still out of action, it remains to be seen what kind of tribute episode is in store for the popular faction. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest on The New Day and whether Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods can finally get back on the same page.
Kofi Kingston was a big fan of The Rock growing up and so getting to have a promo battle with The Great One was like a dream come true for him.
The New Day star recently had an interview with DraftKings. He discussed things such as his WWE title reign, his feud with Randy Orton and more.
During the interview he was asked about the best insult he has received on the mic. Kingston recalled the time the trio went toe to toe with The Rock and said that it was a really cool moment for them:
“We actually got to go toe to toe with the Rock. For me getting insulted by The Rock was really cool because in college before I went to bed every night, I would look at my Rock poster. I would jump and do a jumping elbow into my dormitory bed and pull my sheets up. That’s how I went to bed.
We brought our A game he brought his A game and he’s insulting us. We had these unicorn horns on our heads and they light up. He said that they were llama penises. You get a Rock promo cut on you, as a kid who grew up watching the Rock cut these Rock promos on other people. I’m like ‘Wait now it’s happening to me. Ooh I should be mad but this is really cool.'”
Don’t Take Yourself Too Seriously
Kofi Kingston was also inquired about any notable backstage interaction with The People’s Champion. The former champion recalled the advice he received from the Rock that he understood later in his career:
“We had done some media together. I remember like being backstage I just asked him. I said ‘Hey you have any advice or whatever’ and he’s like ‘yeah just don’t take yourself too seriously’ He said ‘Don’t worry about like oh you gotta go out there and look strong.’ At the time I had no idea what he was talking about.
I think a lot of people want to be the big tough guy all the time to the point where you’re like ‘Oh well I can’t have someone say something about me and look stupid out there because oh I’m too tough’ versus ‘Hey let this person say something to me so that I can say something to them so that the crowd and the people can be entertained’
We’re all trying to work together to tell a story. So I didn’t really understand that. Then you fast forward to the New Day and here we are again going out as grown men twerking and shaking our hips and gyrating and wearing these like crazy flamboyant colors.”
Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have recently been involved in a rivalry with Karrion Kross. They are currently not booked for the SummerSlam PPV.
It meant a lot for Xavier Woods to become King of the Ring in 2021, but sadly the New Day member will not be defending his crown in the tournament this year.
Although it wasn’t technically a qualifying match, Woods lost to another man vying for the crown in GUNTHER on WWE RAW. Woods was forced to submit after GUNTER cinched in a STF during their fight as Kofi Kingston watched on. It was a big loss for Woods but it put GUNTHER in a great position to be put in the tournament.
Sure enough, GUNTHER will get his shot in the first round of the tournament this Monday on this upcoming WWE RAW as he’ll take on another former King Of The Ring in Sheamus.
That’s not the only first round match set to go down as the aformentioned Kingston will battle new RAW draftee in WWE Hall of Famer, Rey Mysterio Jr.
Woods took to social media to express his disappointment not being in the tournament, but also took a moment to show his love for his fellow New Day dude in Kingston (and also tease the WWE graphics department who made the error of mispelling Kofi’s name). Kofi was the first to comment on his match, making sure to dedicate his match to Xavier.
“You all know how important King of the Ring has always been to me. I’m not in the tournament this year but my brother Kofi has the chance to gain the crown. BRING IT HOME FOR NEW DAY! Also please spell his name correctly on the next graphic.”
You all know how important King of the Ring has always been to me. I'm not in the tournament this year but my brother Kofi has the chance to gain the crown. BRING IT HOME FOR NEW DAY!
Swerve Strickland’s historic AEW World Championship at AEW Dynasty may never have come about had KofiMania not taken wrestling by storm in 2019.
At AEW’s most recent pay-per-view, Strickland won the AEW World Championship from Samoa Joe and became the first black AEW World Champion in the process. On the post-show media scrum, Strickland spoke about how Kofi Kingston’s journey to the WWE Championship inspired him to think big.
“Friends of mine, seeing friends like Kofi [Kingston]. The last five years was probably one of the biggest inspirational things you’ve ever seen. Not just in black history but in wrestling history period. And that’s motivating. That’s inspiring. And that makes me like ‘I want to do that for the next generation.'”
Strickland added that he has big plans now that he is the champion and was pleased that it didn’t take long for another black champion to emerge following Kofi’s victory in MetLife Stadium.
“I don’t want to just do it once. I want to do it multiple times. And the fact that I was able to somewhat recreate a feeling like that in just a small amount of time, not like 20 years later, 15, 30, years later. That’s progress in my mind. And it’s not just me, it’s a team. Nana’s a part of that. My people, my family. All of them right here. None of this happens without any of these guys together.
Strickland’s win is understandably huge for him and could mark the ushering of a new era, one that sees AEW leave the issues of the past behind. Whatever comes next, Swerve has done the work to elevate himself into the main event, and the future bodes well with him as AEW World Champion.
It has been over four years since WWE made one of the most questionable booking decisions that angered fans. On the October 4, 2019, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown, Kofi Kingston put the WWE Championship on the line against Brock Lesnar. Although it was expected that Lesnar would win, WWE made the decision to have ‘The Beast’ defeat Kingston in seven seconds.
To this day, fans are upset with how WWE handled Kingston’s match with Lesnar, and the longtime company ‘Babyface’ agrees.
In an interview with SEScoops’ MuscleManMacolm, Kingston spoke about his infamous title match with Lesnar and believes it should’ve gone longer than it did.
“…There’s two lines of thought on it. One, I don’t get paid by the hour, so that is probably the most amount of money that I’ve made in the least amount of time on the roster.
But obviously, when you have a WWE Championship match, especially with what it meant to win that title, I would’ve loved for it to have last longer and I would’ve loved to beat Brock Lesnar, but of course, I came up short,” said Kingston.
Although Kingston hasn’t gotten more opportunities to reclaim the WWE Championship, he’s looking to move forward with his career.
Kofi Kingston On Letting Go Of Brock Lesnar Title Match
In the interview, Kingston stayed true to believing in the “Power of Positivity” and isn’t focused on dwelling on what happened in the Fall of 2019.
“…It’s always forward in this industry and that’s the route of chosen to take,” said Kingston.
Kingston may not be in the hunt for the WWE Championship, but he has reunited with Xavier Woods in the tag division. The New Day(Kingston & Woods) is feuding against Imperium(Ludwig Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). The company recently announced on Twitter that the two teams will settle their difference in a Street Fight Tag Team Match on the February 26 WWE Monday Night Raw episode.
A win for New Day could build momentum for them to challenge for the WWE Raw and Smackdown Tag Team Championship. At 42 years old, Kingston is still a featured talent on the WWE roster and doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon.
Swerve Strickland showed his appreciation to some of the exceptional black wrestlers who helped shape his career on this week’s episode of AEW Collision.
February is Black History Month, in which the accomplishments of black individuals are recognised, as they have often been overlooked in the past. AEW features some excellent black wrestlers on its roster, including Jay Lethal, The Acclaimed, Marq Quen, Keith Lee, and Lee Moriarty, to name just a few.
Swerve Strickland on Black History Month
On this week’s episode of AEW Collision, Strickland addressed Black History Month during an in-ring interview with Tony Schiavone. Strickland referred to some of the black wrestlers who have inspired him and didn’t let his credit be reserved to just one promotion.
“Black History [Month], the celebration of the achievement of black people in all industries. All avenues, all walks of life, right? Yeah, I’m noble enough to really show appreciation and recognize all the people who paved the way for me to have the opportunity to stand [in this ring] right here, right now and talk to you [Tony Schiavone.]
“People you may know, such as a Ron Simmons. How about I shout out my friends who made Black history, you know, like a Kofi Kingston? What up Kof! And how about we keep it in house a little bit? We talk about some of the people that’s been one of the best wrestlers on the planet? Holding down a brand, for well over a year now, whoopin’ ass! I’m talking about the Ring of Honor Women’s [World] Champion Athena. What up sis?”
The January 15 episode of WWE Monday Night Raw gave fans an update on Kofi Kingston’s status. On the January 8 episode of the show, Kingston was attacked by Ludwig Kaiser, resulting in him being injured. WWE Commentator Michael Cole revealed on this past WWE Monday Night Raw that the former WWE Champion is expected to be out for a few weeks.
Cole shared that Kingston’s injury was a “Cervical neck sprain and an AC sprain.” It’s unclear if these injuries are legitimate or a part of a storyline. Both injuries would seemingly rule out Kingston’s involvement in the WWE Royal Rumble on January 27.
That said, his partner Xavier Woods made his return and wants to get revenge for Kingston. Woods faced Kaiser on the January 15 episode and lost by disqualification after The New Day member hit him with a chair. They continued to brawl after the match, with Woods getting the better of the exchange.
In a backstage interview with Byron Sexton, the former King Of The Ring Winner tried to explain his actions but was attacked from behind by Kaiser. Before the Imperium member could continue, Jey Uso appeared to stop the assault.
For two weeks, Uso helped Kingston in his feud against the Imperium (Kaiser & Giovanni Vinci). Since Vinci and Kingston are out with an injury, this could lead to Uso and WWE Intercontinental Champion Gunther being more involved in the storyline.
What Could Be Next In The Storyline?
Although Woods is looking to get revenge on Kaiser for Kingston, Uso could soon set his sights on Gunther’s championship. “The Ring General” has looked unbeatable since winning the title on the June 10, 2022, episode of WWE Friday Night Smackdown. He has successfully defended the title 19 times and would be looking for new challengers.
Uso’s involvement in the storyline with Kingston and Woods may provide WWE a way to transition to him challenging the WWE Intercontinental Champion. Since moving to WWE Monday Night Raw, Uso has been showing that he can stand on his own without his family, and it would solidify his decision by potentially winning the title.
For Woods, his ongoing feud with Kaiser may lead to the return of both Kingston and Vinci in a few weeks. The company could decide to have a featured tag team match between The New Day(Kingston & Woods) and Imperium (Kaiser & Vinci) within the next few months.
While the storyline seems to point in this direction, WWE has plenty of options. Regardless, it doesn’t seem the company has a plan for everyone involved, which may lead to big matches heading into the “Road To WrestleMania.”
Injuries are a sad part of pro wrestling, and they can occur when you least expect them. Imperium’s Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser lost this week on RAW, but it was due to referee stoppage after Vinci went down.
Possible Injury During WWE RAW
Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso faced Giovanni Vinci and Ludwig Kaiser in a match that was progressing smoothly during the RAW 1 episode of WWE RAW. Suddenly, the match came to an unexpected halt.
Giovanni Vinci went down on the apron, prompting an abrupt stoppage of the match. Ringside doctors attended to Vinci, leading the referee to make the decision to end the match.
In an unexpected turn, Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso were declared the winners via referee stoppage.
Michael Cole kept saying on commentary that they take their talent’s safety very seriously. At this time, we are uncertain what happened with Giovanni Vinci, but it was enough to call off the match.
Following the match, Giovanni Vinci was observed walking out on his own. The sudden conclusion of the match added an element of surprise to its outcome.
Giovanni Vinci caught a Kofi Kingston dropkick off a second rope jump.
The ref halted the action, the doctor jumped in the ring, and called off the match. Great work from the referee Shawn Bennett protecting Vinci
Giovanni Vinci later updated his X with a message. When translated to English, he let fans know that he’s doing fine. He also thanked them for their support and concern.
WWE RAW featured Kofi Kingston, as he was dressed up as Santa Claus, this week for their Holiday edition. Fans saw Kofi Claus during the December 18th episode of WWE RAW in Des Moines, but Xavier Woods was nowhere in sight.
Xavier Woods Is Off The Road
According to PW Insider, Xavier Woods was present in Birmingham, Alabama, a few weeks ago. At this point, he is off the road, and it’s unclear what the issue is.
While we have not confirmed the nature of the issue, we are told Woods is banged up and has been taken off the road to heal up.
The specific details of Xavier Woods’ issue have not been confirmed, but the outlet indicated that Xavier Woods is dealing with injuries, leading to his removal from the road for a period of recovery.
Initial advertisements for the Raw brand Holiday Tour dates post-Christmas featured the New Day, but recent updates indicate a modification to the lineup, with only Kofi Kingston now scheduled for these events.
We have not heard anything specific regarding Xavier Woods’ medical issues or injury. At this time, it appears that he is getting some time off to rest.
Why WWE Superstars Seek Medical Help In Birmingham, Alabama
WWE superstars often seek medical attention at Dr. James Andrews’ clinic in Birmingham, Alabama. The clinic is renowned for its expertise in orthopedic and sports medicine, and it serves as a destination for wrestlers dealing with various injuries and musculoskeletal issues.
Wrestlers from WWE, known for the physical demands of their profession, turn to Dr. Andrews and his team for specialized care, diagnostics, and potential treatments to address injuries sustained during their rigorous performances. The clinic’s reputation for handling sports-related injuries makes it a go-to destination for WWE superstars looking to receive comprehensive and professional medical care to aid in their recovery and rehabilitation processes.
It appears that Xavier Woods is just one of the latest WWE Superstars to seek help at that famous clinic, but he won’t be the last. Charlotte Flair, who just suffered a notable knee injury, may also make her way to Birmingham in due time when her surgery comes around.
Kofi Kingston’s road to WWE WrestleMania has taken a major hit due to an injury that has put him on the sidelines.
Kingston was sidelined when he suffered an injury on last week’s episode of SmackDown while doing a segment to set up this week’s fatal 5-way match.
Now, Xavier Woods has replaced him with the match now seeing Drew McIntyre vs. Sheamus vs. LA Knight vs. Karrion Kross vs. Xavier Woods. The winner will earn the right to challenge Gunther for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 39.
The Latest
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Kingston’s ankle injury is only expected to keep him out of the ring for about 5 weeks.
Meltzer wrote, “Kingston suffered an ankle injury when McIntyre did a running flip dive on several people. It was just a fluke deal. The time frame we are hearing is five weeks. There was concern earlier it could be longer because he may have needed surgery and if he does need surgery it would be lengthy.”
The impression is that Kingston won’t need surgery. Unfortunately, it looks like Kingston will be missing WrestleMania though.
