The story of the New Day is similar to one’s told before. At one point in a wrestler’s career, they face a crossroads professionally. In the case of this trio, that crossroads put forth a new opportunity for them to come together and excel.
The New Day, composed of Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E, began with the idea of rejuvenating their careers while offering something fresh to WWE programming.
By 2014, all three members were at different crossroads. Kofi Kingston, known for his high-flying athleticism, had stagnated after years in the mid-card.
Big E was struggling to find momentum after breaking away from Dolph Ziggler. Xavier Woods, relatively new on the main roster, lacked a defined role.
The New Day – Their Origins, Concept and Formation
When the New Day came about the ideas and concepts for how they would debut, how they would be presented and what they would become varied.
While their answers vary from member to member, what is common among the three of them? They were all toiling in the spots where they were.
In the words of each of the group members, they all share influences on the group, what the group represented, and its original concepts.
Honestly, as a kid, I grew up on Power Rangers and Ninja Turtles. Those ran my life. To me, it was always the idea of, so let’s say you got the four Ninja Turtles, and they’ve got a bad guy who’s got five superpowers.
They’re like, ‘Oh no, you can’t beat him.’ Like, no, no, because they also have five. Their fifth power is teamwork.
Xavier Woods on creative influences on the New Day
Initially Woods and E were talking about getting together and doing some sort of a faction. At that point in my career I was looking for a change, and it seemed like the perfect change.
It was going to be three guys who were disgruntled with their positions in the company and wanted better, and that was the truth.
Obviously, when we debuted, it ended up being a lot different from that. But we embraced what we were given, and we are what we are now.
The evolution process has been amazing. The gimmick was going to be put on us and we knew that regardless of what we were out there talking about, our chemistry would shine through. And here we are today still doing it.
Former world champion Kofi Kingston knew that he needed professional change, but even realizing that he was going to make the best of the situation. What fans saw presented initially would not ultimately be what New Day would become.
Kofi Kingston on What New Day Was Supposed To Be
The final third of the faction, Big E, like Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, needed a change and, professionally, a purpose.
Like both of his colleagues, New Day’s original view was to be reminiscent of another notable former WWE faction.
Actually, Woods’s initial idea for The New Day was to reboot the Nation of Domination, the Attitude Era group that The Rock got his start in.
The Nation was a faction of Black militants. And while it had a lot of cool moments (and those guys are all legends) …
Woods, Kofi and I are not militants. But I think that just tells you what it’s been like at times to be a young Black wrestler trying to make it. You pitch based on what you feel will get you on TV.
And what you feel will get you on TV is probably what’s gotten on TV before. And what’s gotten on TV before is a very narrow definition of Blackness.
Big E Reveals What the Original Idea for the New Day Was
It’s very like Slumdog Millionaire. A lot of The New Day comes from random pieces. I played trombone as a kid, from sixth grade through high school.
Not knowing that I would eventually have a trombone in pro wrestling. Why? Because that doesn’t make sense. That’s ridiculous.
Xavier Woods on the mixed bag of ideas that helped to form New Day
Early Struggles and Reinvention
The initial reaction to The New Day was lukewarm, with fans rejecting their overly positive demeanor. Chants of “New Day Sucks!” became prevalent. The trio, however, leaned into this negative reaction, transitioning into entertaining heels by mid-2015.
Their promos, filled with witty humor, pop culture references, and over-the-top charisma, connected with audiences. The group embraced their creative freedom and began to shine with their natural chemistry.
The New Day – Their Tag Team Success and Milestones
The New Day quickly became a force in WWE’s tag team division. Some of their most notable achievements include:
At Extreme Rules 2015, The New Day won their first WWE Tag Team Championship, defeating Tyson Kidd and Cesaro. This marked the beginning of their dominance.
Their second reign as champions, starting at SummerSlam 2015, lasted an unprecedented 483 days, breaking Demolition’s 28-year record as the longest-reigning tag team champions in WWE history.
During this reign, The New Day defended their titles against teams like The Usos, The Dudley Boyz, and The League of Nations.
They participated in standout matches, including multi-team bouts and gimmick matches like TLC (Tables, Ladders, and Chairs) against The Usos.
While thriving as a group, each member of The New Day achieved singles success. That success came in some of the most exciting runs and moments that not only New Day experienced by that anyone on the roster has had.
Singles Achievements
In 2019, the attention of Kofi Kingston’s singles career garnered a great deal of attention. A moment that could have belonged to Mustafa Ali resulted in a change for Kingston to replace him.
At the 2019 Elimination Chamber, Kingston won the match running the gambet and challenging then champion Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
After an 11-year career, Kofi’s opportunity sparked the KofiMania movement, culminating in his historic victory at WrestleMania 35, where he became the first African-born WWE Champion. His win finally put an African-born WWE wrestler at the forefront as its world champion.
Kofi’s win was not just for him; it was for all of us.
– Big E on KofiMania.
Big E embarked on a singles run in 2020, winning the Intercontinental Championship. His ultimate success came in September 2021, when he cashed in his Money in the Bank contract on Bobby Lashley to win the WWE Championship, cementing his place as a top-tier star.
In 2021, Xavier Woods had long campaigned to revive the King of the Ring tournament, and his dedication paid off when he won the prestigious title in 2021, solidifying his place as a solo competitor.
To date (2025), this remains Woods’s biggest singles achievement in the WWE. While he has had a number of singles championship opportunities, becoming the King remains the biggest highlight of his singles career in the WWE.
A mix of humor, emotional storytelling, and competitive matches has marked the New Day’s journey:
The New Day – Their Most Notable Rivalry…
Among their countless matches with countless teams, their battles against Jimmy and Jey Uso showcased an undeniable chemistry among the five.
These matches, including their epic Hell in a Cell match, elevated the prestige of the tag team division. Both teams pushed each other to deliver groundbreaking performances.
It is regarded as one of the best modern tag team rivalries, featuring spectacular bouts at events like Hell in a Cell 2017.
Their incorporation of comedic elements, such as “Booty-O’s” cereal, the “New Day Pops” ice cream gimmick, and Francesca (Woods’ trombone), kept their act fresh and beloved by fans.
But while their comedy has entertained many, it hasn’t been without its share of criticism. So, while the use of pancakes was intended to amuse, it has been considered racist as well because of its connotations being tied to the African-American faction.
Legacy and Impact
The New Day redefined what a faction could be in WWE. They brought a mix of comedy, athleticism, and storytelling that appealed to fans across all demographics. They were vocal about themes of representation, camaraderie, and positivity.
We are more than just a team; we’re brothers.
– Kofi Kingston.
Wrestling critics and fans often praise The New Day for rejuvenating WWE’s tag team division and proving that creativity and teamwork can thrive in a heavily scripted environment.
In multiple interviews, The New Day has discussed their creative freedom, struggle to connect with audiences initially, and commitment to representation. They have also emphasized the importance of staying authentic and supporting one another.
We fought for everything you’ve seen. None of this was handed to us.
Our bond is what makes The New Day special. Without that, none of this works.
– Big E via WWE.com
The New Day’s journey from an initially unpopular concept to one of WWE’s most celebrated factions is a testament to their perseverance, creativity, and undeniable talent.
Whether as a group or in their individual careers, their contributions to wrestling have been profound, leaving an indelible mark on WWE history.
But the group hasn’t seen its share of professional adversity. Big E’s career-threatening injury has been the biggest challenge.
The group was once again reinventing themselves. The once-beloved faction have been paraded with countless ‘New Day Sucks’ chants as part of this heel turn and told Big E that they will call him if they need him.
The brotherhood that had become synonymous with the group was replaced by betrayal and the excommunication of a group member.
Big E’s place in the group would be no more, as Woods and Kingston shared how they felt they were forgotten and left behind and that the group had remained the same for the sake of E, who wasn’t active.
As the group has remained together (in one way, shape, or form) for over a decade, it is also fair to say that their time in the WWE will continue to be a unit for years to come.
