The New Day’s 10-year celebration on WWE Raw turned into anything but a happy reunion. Fans who tuned in expecting pancakes and positivity instead got heartbreak as Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston shocked the WWE Universe by turning on their longtime friend and brother, Big E.
The night began with Adam Pearce introducing Woods and Kingston, who thanked fans for their support but hinted at a storm brewing. Before they could fully explain, Big E’s music hit, and the former WWE Champion made his return to a thunderous ovation. Big E spoke earnestly about his recovery from a career-threatening neck injury and his desire to reunite with the team he considered family. He even offered to serve as their manager until he was medically cleared to compete.
But what followed was a stunning twist. Woods and Kingston, instead of embracing their friend, unleashed weeks of pent-up frustration. Woods accused Big E of returning only now, after their bond had begun to fracture. Kingston callously dismissed Big E’s injury, comparing him to other wrestlers who had returned from broken necks, implying that Big E had abandoned them. The vitriol culminated in Woods coldly stating that Big E would never be cleared to wrestle and urging him to leave the ring for good.
Big E, visibly heartbroken, extended a final olive branch in the form of a hug, but it was rebuffed. As Woods and Kingston clasped hands in a show of unity, Big E was left standing alone, the bond that had defined The New Day shattered before the eyes of a stunned audience.
The betrayal marks a new, darker chapter for Woods and Kingston, who seemed to leave their trademark optimism behind in favor of bitterness and anger. For Big E, it’s a crushing blow in what should have been a celebration of camaraderie.