What The New Day's Split Means For Big E's WWE Push

Here's what WWE has planned for E with Kingston and Woods on Raw.

by Andy H Murray
Big E
WWE.com

WWE pulled a genuine shock on last week's episode of SmackDown, announcing that New Day members Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods were being sent to Raw without Big E.

The draft pick came just seconds after Kingston and Woods had become SmackDown Tag Team Champions. The New Day, who have been a trio since July 2014, looked despondent in the ring, and are now set for a farewell bout with Shinsuke Nakamura, Sheamus, and Cesaro on tonight's SD.

Dave Meltzer writes in this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter that WWE split the group as they want to keep E away from the trio's collective act and make him a more serious character as his singles push continues. This has been a frequent topic of discussion since E first struck out on his own a few months ago, with Booker T claiming the former Intercontinental Champion needed to "shed a few things for people to look at him like the World Champion," adding that "trying to be The New Day is not gonna work for him as far as working at the top of the card."

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Woods and Kingston are now the Raw Tag Team Champions, having traded belts with the Street Profits on Monday's show.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.