Big E Says Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Both Expected to Retire in WWE Before Their Releases

For two men who spent decades building their legacies inside WWE, the exits of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods apparently came as a genuine shock — at least in terms of how they’d always envisioned their careers ending.

Big E recently opened up about the departures of his longtime New Day partners, revealing that both Kingston and Woods had fully expected to finish their in-ring careers with the company. Neither man saw himself wrestling anywhere else. That kind of loyalty makes the circumstances of their releases all the more striking.

WWE parted ways with Kingston and Woods last month following what were described as contract restructuring discussions. The two had been with the company for a combined span of decades, with Kingston in particular having one of the longer uninterrupted tenures of any performer on the roster. Together with Big E, they built The New Day into one of the most beloved and enduring stables in recent WWE history — a run that spanned multiple title reigns, WrestleMania moments, and a merchandise legacy that rivaled nearly anyone on the card.

Big E, who has been sidelined since suffering a broken neck in 2022, now finds himself as the sole remaining member of the group still under WWE contract — a position that adds another layer of weight to his reflections.

For Kingston and Woods, the road ahead is very much an open question. Both remain among the most recognizable names in the business, and their futures outside WWE will be closely watched across the industry.