Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods Leave WWE After Record Tag Title Reign

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods left WWE on Saturday after years of success in the tag team division. The duo captured four tag team championships together and eight when counting Big E's time with the group.

The New Day became fan favorites and held the tag team titles for a record 483 days. Woods' injury disrupted their storyline after the team turned heel following a tag title win at WrestleMania 41. Kingston paired with Grayson Waller but the two did not win any gold.

Their departures drew reactions from wrestlers across promotions. Kingston and Woods now rank among the top free agents available.

WWE also released Tonga Loa and JC Mateo in recent cuts.

Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide builds toward a mask vs. mask match between El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano at Rey de Reyes on May 30. The no-disqualification bout requires the loser to unmask. At a contract signing Saturday, officials suspended El Grande Americano's girlfriend Andrea Bazarte to keep her out of the match. The Creed Brothers, Brutus and Julius Creed, aided Original El Grande Americano by putting his rival through a table.

The feud ignited at the Royal Rumble in January. Original El Grande Americano eliminated El Grande Americano from the men's match before his own exit.

Darby Allin defended the AEW World Championship against Brody King in one of the week's top matches. King crashed through a barrier but Allin dodged, tossed him back in the ring and landed two Coffin Drops for the pin. Allin improved to 2-0 as champion after beating Maxwell Jacob Friedman last month and Tomasso Ciampa the week before.

Kevin Knight earned a title shot after defending the TNT Championship against MJF. Allin and King had agreed the winner would face Knight next. Knight watched from ringside as Allin prevailed. The pair meet Wednesday.

WWE NXT stars discussed Stand & Deliver standing apart from WrestleMania weekend. Blake Monroe, Ethan Page, Fallon Henley, Je’Von Evans, Joe Hendry, Lainey Reid, Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Sol Ruca and Trick Williams all moved to the main roster since January.

The CW Network and WWE announced NXT premium live events like Stand & Deliver, The Great American Bash and Deadline will air on the CW. "The CW has played an integral role in raising the profile of our up-and-coming Superstars, and we are excited to bring NXT Premium Live Events to broadcast television for the first time ever," WWE senior vice president of talent development and creative Shawn Michaels said.

ESPN will stream NXT events via its ESPN Unlimited App in partnership with the CW. "Joining forces with ESPN is a monumental next step in the evolution of CW Sports," CW President Brad Schwartz said. "The CW now offers more than 800 hours of premium live sports per year. This agreement extends the reach of CW Sports and enables us to capture audiences across the best of broadcast and the best of streaming."

Will Ospreay joined the Death Riders after Jon Moxley invited him to train and hit him with a chair. Ospreay stressed support for his United Empire allies at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Dontaku event. He teamed with Henare and Great-O-Khan to win the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship from Bishamon's Botlin Oleg, Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi.

Callum Newman challenged Ospreay to attack Shingo Takagi after retaining the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Newman called him "Death Rider Billy." Ospreay complied with a Hidden Blade on Takagi.

Becky Lynch beat Iyo Sky to keep the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Championship on Monday Night Raw with Asuka interfering. Damian Priest and R-Truth defeated Axiom and Nathan Frazer for the WWE Tag Team Championship on Friday Night SmackDown. Brie Bella and Paige topped Lash Legend and Nia Jax for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship that night.

WWE Backlash features Danhausen and a mystery partner against The Miz and Kit Wilson after an attack on SmackDown. Myles Borne beat Shaquon Shugars for the NXT North American Championship. Lizzie Rain, niece of Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, debuted in NXT.

Kazuchika Okada defeated Ace Austin to retain the AEW International Championship on Dynamite. Megan Bayne and Lena Kross beat Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida for the Women’s World Tag Team Championship. Jack Perry topped Mascara Dorada for the AEW National Championship on Collision. Willow Nightingale defeated returning Anna Jay for the AEW TBS Championship. Kevin Knight beat Hook for the AEW TNT Championship.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. congratulated niece Zoe Hines on signing with WWE. "Broken" Matt Hardy returned to TNA and attacked Vincent of The Righteous before he could finish Jeff Hardy.

AEW’s Rebel announced a terminal ALS diagnosis at age 47. "Please continue to pray for a peaceful journey and a peaceful passing. I love you," she said on Instagram.

JBL outlined plans as potential AAA general manager on X: "When I become GM of Triple A I’m going to make the world better, I will 1. Build a wall, to keep Okies out. 2. Make it legal to hit leprechauns with trash cans or anything else you can grab and throw. 3. Make Ron Simmons head of the treasury. 4. Make cerveza free."

Trevor Murdoch retired on NWA Powerrr. The three-time NWA worlds champion and ex-WWE star thanked fans. Gisele Shaw beat Tiffany Nieveas for the women’s TV title. Andrade El Idolo defeated Yota Tsuji for the IWGP global heavyweight championship at Wrestling Dontaku. Templario beat Kushida for the MLW World Middleweight Championship at CMLL vs. MLW. Zamaya signed with MLW.