Longevity. It may be a single word, but in professional wrestling it’s something that’s hard to come by and highly coveted by everyone in the industry. In celebrating 10 years, the New Day proved the doubters wrong and that some things were meant to last.
But while celebrating a decade together, the power of positivity that so handily fuelled the trio evaporated in astonishing style.
For weeks Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston sniped at each other, almost reaching breaking point, before an intervention by Big E had the desired effect but potentially heartbreaking ramifications.
New Day – New Beginnings?
You have to go all the way back to November 3, 2014 to find the official formation of New Day in WWE. After weeks of teaming together, the trio debuted the group’s name in a curiously over the top gospel themed vignette on Raw.
The WWE Universe did not take well to the gimmick in the early years of the team. Chants of New Day Sucks followed the group, but the talent of all three men would not be denied.
A gimmick that would have been an albatross around the neck of many other Superstars, suddenly propelled Big E, Woods and Kofi into title success. Records tumbled and popularity soared.
A fierce rivalry with The Usos ensured they had more than adequate dance partners to keep them focussed in-ring, while the bright coloured, unicorn themed merchandise somehow proved a huge hit with fans.
The Sum Of Its Parts?
Fast forward to 2019 and ‘KofiMania’ would change the trajectory of the faction forever.
Although the history books show Kofi Kingston lifted the WWE Championship in New Jersey that night, it was the collective effort of all three men fighting against the system that undeniably got him there.
It was to prove a turning point for the group. Big E would go on to win the WWE Championship in 2021 and Woods realised his lifelong dream of becoming King of The Ring.
Sharing 12 Tag Team Championship reigns, a popular podcast, a video game YouTube channel, books and even a branded cereal, New Day have been successful both as a team and as individuals.
Their display of solidarity during the Black Lives Matter movement or the emotional outpouring after the sudden passing of Brodie Lee, just a couple of examples of all three men showing the courage of their convictions.
The group’s insistence on being unapologetically true to themselves is admirable. In multiple media junkets (sometimes repeatedly during the same ones) they have been questioned on when they would eventually face each other in the ring.
An emotional night at KofiMania
Their answer always remained the same. Why should they? With a roster full of untapped stories and rivalries why should they look to turn on each other?
In the backend of 2024 we may have just edged closer to finding out the answer to that question…
Big E Banished
The New Day have had their fair share of setbacks over the years, especially when it comes to injuries. Most notably, the horrific and potentially career ending injury Big E suffered in March 2022.
A seemingly routine belly to belly suplex from ridge Holland broke E’s neck, fracturing two vertebrae. A crushing blow for an individual widely regarded as one of the nicest in the industry and respected across promotions.
Effectively forced to carry the New Day name on as a duo, it’s fair to say Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston have on the whole failed to hit the same heedy heights of the past when compared to 2024.
It is that under-performance that led us to current events. Longevity isn’t something that happens on its own and there’s a price to be paid. It’s a series of evolutions, tapping into what the fans want to stay relative and making tough decisions.
The night that changed everything
The New Day’s evolution has been subtle at times but in December 2024, their latest could be the most stark so far. Pushed to the edge, fans expected their ten year celebration to be the tipping point after Woods and Kingston exchanged barbs one week earlier.
Just as the pair looked to go their separate ways, Big E appeared on an episode of Raw for the first time in years to talk his brothers down from the ledge.
But it was his offer of management that seemed to unite Woods and Kingston into staying together. Seemingly and unwittingly at the cost of his place in the group.
New Horizons
Brutally rounding on their partner, Woods and Kingston’s stinging words have shocked the WWE Universe. This wasn’t how it was supposed to be. This was supposed to be a celebration of a faction destined to enter the Hall of Fame.
But after months of losses and a potentially worse fate of being forgotten, the future suddenly has endless opportunities for the New Day’s members both present and past to explore.
For a team that has always preached positivity and painted themselves quite literally in all colours of the rainbow, this was a shockingly dark turn of events.
With no fists thrown, this was further evidence that even in an industry steeped in violence, a well written promo can hurt every bit as much as a finishing move.
The image of Big E looking back down the walkway towards his now ex-brothers in arms making a new pact, was gut-wrenching. Whether Big E will return to weekly television or not, it feels like the start of a new chapter without him in it for the New Day.
The new New Day
WWE are no longer afraid to simply keep characters locked in their status quo in order to shift merchandise or avoid upsetting demos that don’t understand why good guys turn bad.
For that reason, this story somehow feels bigger than one of the most successful stables of all time. With the return of John Cena in 2025 for a retirement year, could fans see something else they have pined for?
If the perennial good guys in New Day can now operate in the murky new morality WWE are happy to place their roster in, could the Leader of the Cenation join them there?
How far would you go to be at the top of your field? What would you do to get there? Do the ends justify the means? It’s all suddenly become very Machiavellian.
Characters are no longer set in cartoonish black or white. Heels and faces are now a matter of perspective. It’s a nuanced change that will ultimately lead to more Superstars benefitting from that magic word that New Day now have in abundance…longevity.
