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.
Xavier Woods has revealed his real problem with Cody Rhodes.
The New Day were interviewed recently by Shakiel Mahjouri to promote the upcoming release of WWE 2K25. They talked about things such as wanting nothing to do with Big E, a potential 2K showcase mode featuring their greatest matches and more.
Xavier Woods, who went to high school with the current Undisputed Champion was asked about his experience. The King of The Ring winner who has a background in amateur wrestling himself, did not take anything away from Cody’s wrestling ability but claimed that Rhodes is a horrible person in real life:
“Cody Rhodes. He is a second-generation wrestler, so you got all this family tree stuff. He’s got doors opening for him left and right regardless of where he goes..
He’s like a bad guy in an 80s movie. He is very good at wrestling. I can never take that away from him.
Very talented, multi-time state champion, tons of pins across the board. But his personality? Horrible. Made my life a living hell for years to the point where I wouldn’t have spit on him if he was on fire.”
Xavier Woods also discussed how Cody Rhodes has become a fan favorite in recent times. He questioned the fans forgetting his past misdeeds:
“So that’s my issue with Cody Rhodes. Now the fact that I see him as WWE champion, he’s got the fanfare, he’s got the fireworks, he’s in all the interviews, he’s in all the YouTube shorts, he’s in everything. He’s all over the place. And I just don’t understand.
I thought that you’re supposed to be rewarded for good behavior, not bad. Then you just see like ‘Oh because you got a family lineage, we just forget everything.’ I get it. It’s cool.”
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.
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.
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.
Xavier Woods has expressed his frustrations with Kofi Kingston and could the former Consequences Creed have consequences for his best buddy?
Tension between New Day came to a head on Monday’s episode of WWE Raw as New Day lost their WWE World Tag Team Titles shot against The Judgment Day, but not without its share of complications.
It was Finn Balor and JD McDonagh defending the gold against Kofi and Woods, but it was almost arithmetic that the rest of The Judgment Day would meddle in the business. Woods made clear to Judgment Day rival Damian Priest that he wanted no help from anyone in the match, and Priest agreed. However, the LWO came out to fend off the Judgment Day insurgents and it caused Kingston to get involved. Woods ended up getting a visual three count on McDonagh, but the referee was too busy trying to restore order and it ultimately cost New Day the match.
Woods was irate with LWO after the fact and while Kingston tried to cool him down, only escalated the situation by revealing LWO standing guard was his idea. Woods was not pleased and made clear he wasn’t happy with Kingston. On Friday, Woods made a cryptic post on X stating he may have a reunion of sorts with some “old friends.”
“The streets saying that I may see some old friends soon. Just so yall know, I’m not a kid anymore.”
The streets saying that I may see some old friends soon. Just so yall know, I'm not a kid anymore.
Who could these “old friends” be? Woods has his history in TNA and a team likely on the cusp of making their WWE debut is The Motor City Machine Guns. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin could be two names to align with Woods.
A decade-long record held by Xavier Woods was shattered on the latest episode of Raw when the former King of the Ring was in six-man action. During the July 22, show, Woods teamed with Akira Tozawa and Otis but came up short against The Final Testament.
This was Woods’ first tag-team match in over a decade in which the former King of the Ring did not team with at least one member of the New Day. The last instance of this came during the July 1, 2014, taping of WWE Main Event where Woods and R-Truth lost to Erick Rowan and Luke Harper.
H/T to @WWEStats for uncovering this stat. Stay tuned to SEScoops for more interesting wrestling facts and statistics.
The Future of the New Day
In recent weeks, The Final Testament has sought to split Woods from Kofi Kingston, an act that’d end the New Day as we know it in the process. Karrion Kross told Woods in May that “there’s always time left on the table” for him to join and leave the New Day behind. On a recent edition of the Getting Over podcast, Big E said that the faction is “at a crossroads” and that it’s an “interesting time” for the faction as a split continues to be teased.
The worlds of WWE and Street Fighter are teaming up for a special crossover event as part of the WWE SuperCard mobile game.
In a promo video, Xavier Woods, Rey Mysterio, and Zelina Vega were ‘promoted’ with new attires resembling some of the fighting game franchise’s top characters. The crossover will last from July 17 to August 15 and will include Ryu, Juri, Luke, and Chun-Li. The new Akuma Limited Edition card will also be unlockable.
Fans will be able to battle in special game modes, and collect incredible rewards, a statement from 2K Games added. Special in-game offers, daily streaks, bundles, Card Backs, and Equipment will also be available.
Harley Howe, Studio Manager of Cat Daddy Games (the creators of WWE Supercard) shared their excitement:
“Street Fighter game nights have been a staple of the studio for decades. We’re extremely excited to welcome this franchise to the world of WWE SuperCard as both fans and players. We have done our best to build an experience blending the fusion of both games and hope everyone thoroughly enjoys it.”
WWE’s Video Game Crossovers
WWE Supercard isn’t the only mobile game that is set to see a major crossover. Rock legend Ozzy Osbourne will be a part of WWE Champions as part of the upcoming ‘Summer of Darkness’ event. Osbourne, who was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2021, will be a character in the game and players will have the chance to collect Ozzy-themed items to progress in the Madman Collection Contest.
Call of Duty is also getting in on the crossover fun as part of the upcoming fifth season of the newest game. This update will see WWE Superstars appear in Call of Duty though at this time it is unknown who will be making their presence felt in the hit war game franchise.
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!
AEW star Kenny Omega might be away from in-ring action but he has now teased a potential Boxing bout against WWE Superstar Xavier Woods.
Omega and Woods have a fair share of history together and their friendship goes beyond the boundaries of pro wrestling companies. They have shared rivalry in video games and wrestling in general but they have remained good friends in real life.
On a Twitch livestream, Omega was questioned about the possibility of stepping into a boxing ring for a celebrity match.
“Who knows though? Maybe in a Triller card, somewhere in the future, I’ll be celebrity boxing someone. I don’t know. We’ll find out, who knows? So if I was to take a real boxing match, who would you like to see me fight? Any wrestlers you think I might be able to fight in a real boxing match?
Kenny Omega vs Xavier Woods in a boxing match?
Soon, the fans pointed to Xavier Woods, and ‘The Cleaner’ was in favor of the idea. He showed great interest for a potential match against Woods and reckoned that an actual shoot fight would be an entertaining affair. He said:
“Creed (Xavier Woods). Actually, you know what? Creed, I honestly — it would be a good match. I actually think that’d be a really good match… But in an actual shoot boxing match. I think it’d be a good fight. I think it really would be. That’d be actually really good.”
Despite their on-screen rivalry, Omega stressed that he wouldn’t want to physically hurt the New Day member. He said:
“I wouldn’t wanna hit him though. I hate him, I don’t wanna hit him. I hate his guts but I don’t wanna hit the guy (Omega jokingly said). I don’t think he wants to hit me either. I don’t think it’s like that. I don’t think it’s like that.”
Kenny Omega is currently sidelined
Omega is recuperating from diverticulitis. As he has been absent from AEW programming, he was fired from The Elite, and his arch-nemesis Kazuchika Okada was revealed as his replacement. As of now, surgery is likely on the cards for Kenny Omega as uncertainty looms over his pro wrestling future.
Meanwhile, Omega also fired back at his critics. Check out his comments below:
Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns is headed back to the main event of another WrestleMania. ‘The ‘Tribal Chief’ defends his championship in a highly anticipated rematch with Cody Rhodes on WrestleMania XL Sunday on April 7. Despite his dominance as champion, fans and some of his peers believe his reign may finally be nearing its end.
The stage is set for Rhodes to finally ‘finish his story.’ After winning the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble and choosing Reigns as his opponent, fans believe WWE WrestleMania 40 will be his moment to win. WWE superstar Xavier Woods is also starting to believe Reigns will not make it past the event as champion.
In an interview with WWE Die Woche (WWE The Week) with Sebastian Hackl, Woods shared his prediction for the Reigns vs. Rhodes match. He doesn’t think Reigns holds the title past the event and that it will create new opportunities for other talent.
“…There’s no way he gets through WrestleMania with that championship. If he does, I don’t know. I can’t even say anything because, just in case that he does, but I fully believe he will no longer be champion after WrestleMania 40,” said Woods. He added, “…And then I feel like we might just have a champion who shows up and defends the title a bit more and then people will have a shot at winning the heavyweight championship. Excuse me, the universal championship.”
Potential Future With Cody Rhodes As Undisputed WWE Universal Champion
Woods’s statement may echo other talent beliefs and hope that Rhodes will be the new champion. While fans have appreciated Reigns’ championship run over the years, he hasn’t been as active in defending as some may hope.
His last successful title defense occurred at WWE Royal Rumble on January 27 in a Fatal Four Way match against LA Knight, AJ Styles, and Randy Orton. This is a problem, as he only defended the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship five times throughout 2023.
WWE WrestleMania 40 will mark more than two months since the ‘Tribal Chief’ put his title on the line. Rhodes’s winning the championship is expected to make him more active and put WWE in a position to consistently find fresh challengers. ‘The American Nightmare seemingly has the odds stacked against him but is confident he’ll win the title and usher in a new era in WWE.
Legends pass away like regular humans, which is a hard reality to face. Sadly, the world lost a remarkable talent as Carl Weathers passed away recently. The pro wrestling world took notice as well.
Tributes For Carl Weathers
Carl Weathers died on Thursday at the age of 76. His family said in a statement that he “died peacefully in his sleep.” We do not know the cause of death yet, but the world is mourning this great loss.
Xavier Woods from WWE honored the late Carl Weathers, who recently passed away. Weathers’ portrayal of Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise served as the inspiration for Woods’ TNA persona, Consequences Creed.
“Today one of my biggest inspirations died. Carl Weathers brought Apollo Creed to life and in doing so he inspired me to become something that helped me achieve my wildest dreams. You really never know what you just doing what you love does to inspire others. #Rip Carl Weathers”
Jesse Ventura shared the screen with Carl Weathers. He posted a photo of them together on the set of Predator, along with a touching tribute.
We lost an icon. Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend. All my sympathies and love to his family. I loved working with him on Predator and then celebrating that film with him at various conventions in the ensuing years. Thank you, Carl.
We lost an icon. Carl Weathers was a phenomenal talent, a true professional, and a dear friend. All my sympathies and love to his family. I loved working with him on Predator and then celebrating that film with him at various conventions in the ensuing years. Thank you, Carl. pic.twitter.com/29OJoe8qcu
Sean Waltman also paid his respects to the great man that the world lost this week. While posting an animate gif of Weathers playing Chubbs Peterson from Happy Gilmore, in the scene where he’s showing Happy that he got both hands back after his death, X-Pac wrote: “Thank you for everything.”
Carl Weathers was a great actor, and he kicked down barriers for others with his fantastic career in entertainment. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
Our thoughts are with Carl Weathers’ family, friends, and fans at this time as they cope with losing such a talented man. RIP.
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.”
Xavier Woods’ recent absence from WWE programming has been attributed to the New Day star being “banged up” and needing time off the road to recuperate and heal. It appears though that his hiatus won’t be a long one.
Mike Johnson of PWInsider is reporting that WWE sources anticipate Xavier Woods to be back soon. The company expects the former champion to be back on road within the first two weeks of January.
However, they have been advised that this is a “tentative” plan, which means that it is subject to change.
The former NXT star was also recently in Birmingham, Alabama, a common destination for celebrities needing surgery. This location often includes visits to Dr. James Andrews’ clinic, renowned for its expertise in orthopedic and sports medicine. Wrestlers frequently seek treatment there for a range of injuries issues.
This visit led to some speculation regarding the extent of Woods’ injury; however, the new report suggests that he’s not dealing with any serious issues.
Xavier Woods was last seen participating in a Tag Team Turmoil match which aired on the November 27 episode of WWE RAW. Initially, Woods was listed in the lineup for the WWE Holiday Tour live events. He has since been pulled from the loop.
During the December 18 episode of Raw, Woods’ partner Kofi Kingston appeared dressed as Santa Claus for a festive segment. He was ambushed by Imperium’s Ludwig Kaiser and Giovanni Vinci. Fortunately, Jey Uso came to his aid, leading to a match between Uso and Kaiser, where Uso emerged victorious.
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.
Ridge Holland is dealing with the toxicity of social media with negative fans on the one-year anniversary of Big E’s unfortunate injury.
On March 11, 2022, Big E suffered a broken neck when taking a belly-to-belly suplex from Holland during a tag team match on an episode of WWE SmackDown. Big E landed on his head, fracturing his C1 vertebrae and C6 vertebrae.
Big E didn’t suffer spinal cord damage or need surgery. He wanted to wait a year before getting another check-up to see how his recovery was going. Holland did check on Big E in the hospital after the event and gave him gifts.
The Tweet
Holland noted on Twitter that he has been getting death threats and labeled as racist by fans online:
“Death threats. Threats to my family. Lobbying for me to lose my job. Being labeled as racist. Great stuff keep ‘em coming.”
Xavier Woods saw the tweet and responded with, “Pro Wrestling is extremely dangerous. All of us involved understand that. Ridge & his family do not deserve to be treated this way. Please do not send any hate towards them. Instead use your energy to do something positive like sending love to E. Be kind. Please be kind.”
WWE will be adding some new royalty to their history books with the crowning of a new King and Queen of the Ring later this year.
It has been confirmed that the King and Queen of the Ring event will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, May 27.
WWE’s most recent coronation also happened in Saudi Arabia, at the Crown Jewel 2021 event.
At that show, Xavier Woods (who had rallied for the return of the KOTR tournament) was crowned King.
Zelina Vega, mere months after her return to WWE, bested Doudrop to win the ‘Queen’s Crown Tournament’ as WWE opted against calling her Queen of the Ring.
Unhappy
For the video package aired on Raw, WWE featured several Superstars, but two notable exceptions were Vega and Woods.
On Twitter, Vega expressed her displeasure at the fact that the most recent King and Queen of WWE were nowhere to be seen.
Love that the last and FIRST Queen Of The Ring wasn’t shown in that clip but ok 👌🏽
The first King of the Ring tournament took place back in 1985, when Don ‘The Rock’ Muraco captured the crown, besting the Iron Sheik in the finals.
In the following years, Harley Race, Randy Savage, Ted DiBiase, Tito Santana, and Bret Hart would all be crowned King.
In 1993, WWE introduced the King of the Ring event to Television, with Bret once again winning, becoming the only two-time King of the Ring winner in history.
It may be some time before fans see the New Day defend their WWE NXT Tag Team Championships as Xavier Woods is reportedly injured.
Woods, alongside Kofi Kingston, won the titles at WWE NXT Deadline, dethroning Pretty Deadly and ending their reign at 97 days.
With their victory, the New Day becomes the third team to capture the WWE Tag Team triple-crown, after The Revival in 2019 and the Street Profits in 2020.
Injured
Since winning the titles, the New Day has had just two matches: a title defense on the December 14, 2022 episode of NXT, and a six-person tag-team match at the December 27, WWE live event.
PW Insider reports that Woods is “banged up” and “not yet 100% cleared,” which is why New Day hasn’t been seen more inside the ring.
Details of his injury remain unclear, but he is not expected to miss much more time in the ring.
The expectation within WWE is that the UpUpDownDown host should be good to go by this month’s Royal Rumble, if not sooner.
While he has not been wrestling, Woods has continued to appear at WWE events, and was in Kofi’s corner for a house show in Huntsville, Alabama.
The Rumble
If the backstage talk is right, Woods will be healed in time for the Rumble, and would likely be a member of the Men’s Royal Rumble match.
The Men’s match is coming together, with Kingston, Ricochet, and Santos Escobar coming from SmackDown.
On last night’s Raw, it was confirmed that Seth Rollins, Bobby Lashley, and WWE United States Champion Austin Theory will also be in the Men’s Rumble match.
Though most professional wrestlers may prefer to “layeth the SmackDown” on their opponents, Da Party opted for a different approach.
In a music single released at midnight, the quartet of WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Xavier Woods, Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, AEW‘s Adam Cole, and former WWE Superstar Tyler Breeze, laid down the bars. The respective single marks the musical debut of the foursome, as they previously connected in the professional wrestling and gaming worlds.
Each spent time in WWE, with Woods standing as the sole talent to remain with the company, but it was on Wood’s popular Up Up Down Down YouTube Channel where they truly bonded. Now, Da Party lends their voices to the music stylings of “Can’t Stop Da Party.”
Also featuring the voice of Harley Cameron, the dance track “Can’t Stop Da Party” is now available on major music streaming services, including Spotify, Apple, and Amazon Music.
Prior to the song’s official launch, Da Party shared some behind-the-scenes photographs from their recording session in the studio.
Harley Cameron, much like her co-contributors, is a professional wrestler, but she’s also made some moves in the music business as well. In October, she dropped a cover of “I Put a Spell on You” alongside WWE Superstars Shotzi and Scarlett. The trio previously released another song entitled “Indestructible” in 2021.
2021 also marked the premiere of “The IInspiration,” named after the Australian tag team of Cassie Lee and Jessica McKay. The duo used it as their theme song in IMPACT Wrestling. Lee and McKay were featured, alongside Cameron, in the corresponding music video for the song as well.
Fans of Xavier Woods’ popular UpUpDownDown YouTube channel will soon get to hear the group’s single ‘Can’t Stop Da Party.’
Da Party consists of Woods, former WWE Superstar and current trainer Tyler Breeze, Ring of Honor World Champion Claudio Castagnoli, and AEW’s Adam Cole.
On Twitter, Cole shared an image of the four members and said it is just two more days before the track’s release.
Given that the tweet was released yesterday, that means that ‘Can’t Stop Da Party’ will drop at some point tomorrow.
Fans can find out more information on how to purchase the track by clicking here.
Harley Cameron
Harley Cameron, who has performed with Shotzi and Scarlett, will feature in the track set to be released on Monday.
All four members of Da Party have proven themselves in the ring, and while Woods can hold his own on the trombone, none are known for their singing.
In addition to the foursome, the track will feature Harley Cameron, who is a wrestler/singer.
Cameron worked with Shotzi and Scarlett last October for a cover of ‘I Put a Spell on You’ and produced the theme song for The IInspiration in Impact Wrestling.
Da Party
The quartet of Woods, Breeze, Castagnoli, and Cole were highlights of UpUpDownDown for years, but the group’s run was cut short by factors outside of their control.
Breeze was released from WWE in 2021, and Cole would choose not to re-sign with the company shortly after.
In October 2022, members of Da Party teased a reunion and in November, streamed on Twitch for their first time playing together since Cole’s departure.
