Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Rejected WWE’s Request to Restructure Their Contracts and Asked for Their Release

The full story behind Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods leaving WWE has been clarified by Fightful Select — and it was not a straightforward mutual parting. Both men had re-signed with WWE just last year in deals believed to run through 2030, but TKO tasked WWE with shedding millions of dollars in payroll and the company asked Kingston and Woods to restructure their contracts as part of that exercise. Kingston and Woods — each believed to be earning seven figures — rejected the proposal and instead asked for their release, which WWE granted.

The decision is reported to have been made as far back as last Monday, suggesting the two had time to process the situation before the news became public. JC Mateo and Tonga Loa also departed in the same round of exits.

AEW Is Reportedly Interested in Signing The New Day Following Their WWE Release

The free agent market for Kingston and Woods opened almost immediately, with AEW reported to be among the interested parties. Multiple AEW wrestlers posted publicly about the duo following news of their exit, signaling genuine interest from within the promotion. The New Day is one of the most decorated acts in WWE history — their tag team championship record, decade-long run together, and the cultural significance of the faction make them one of the most appealing free agent acquisitions professional wrestling has seen in years.