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The New Day will never be the same after the shocking 10-year anniversary segment from the latest episode of WWE Raw.
It's safe to say no one knew what to expect after Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods engaged in their most gut-wrenching argument yet on Nov. 25. We certainly didn't anticipate one of the biggest swerves of the year as they united to excommunicate their resident powerhouse.
Big E posted a heart-warming Player's Tribune article chronicling his life and pro wrestling career. Later, he made his first appearance in the ring since his serious neck injury in 2022 to help his friends remember who they are and offer to manage them.
What came next stunned everyone who had hoped the trio would pull through this and anyone predicting Woods would turn on Kingston. Instead, the troubled duo put their differences aside and unceremoniously rejected their returning stablemate.
Ariel Helwani compared it to the infamous "barber shop" incident, in which Shawn Michaels super-kicked Marty Jannetty and threw him through a window. In the process, he disbanded The Rockers and kick-started his iconic run as a singles competitor.
That's a bold statement, but it might not be too far off considering the moment's significance and what it could do for The New Day. The group has been directionless for over a year and coasting for too long on who they were.
This long overdue heel turn could be the power play they needed to adapt and revive Raw's underutilized tag team division.
An Emotional But Necessary Sendoff
We've made the case that the in-fighting between Woods and Kingston is the best storyline on Raw. The latest development cemented it and positioned the pairias the tag team to build around heading into WrestleMania season.
From the beginning, E's absence has been integral to this story. The void he left forced the remaining members to overcompensate in different ways. Woods' insecurities were on full display, and Kingston attempted to find a replacement and seek help from other factions.
In truth, some of their struggles started when they got separated during the 2020 WWE draft.
Sure, Woods fulfilled his dream of winning the King of the Ring tournament and Big E went on to win the men's Money in the Bank ladder match and become WWE champion, but they felt the most disconnected during this period, and injuries bogged them down for most of the year in 2022.
Their short-lived side quest to NXT wasn't even enough to reassure fans that The Purveyors of Positivity still had some life left.
Their current storyline is the most compelling material they've had to work with in years. Sadly, they had to address E's status if they were going to move forward. This seemed like a goodbye to his onscreen character and a definitive answer to viewers waiting for his return.
It's telling that he wasn't involved in any physicality during the segment, and he has remained consistent in his belief that he may never be medically cleared to wrestle again.
The 38-year-old notably attempted to serve as manager for hid former teammates because he possibly doesn't want to risk his health after such a serious injury to his vertebrae.
After nearly three years, it's clear he doesn't see a future as an in-ring performer, and he has made his peace with that. As such, it was a heart-breaking but brilliant move to rip the band aid off and use this unfortunate situation to generate heat.
A Potential Return to Form
Never say never in wrestling. Their third member could compete again someday, but for now, they must deal with the reality of the situation and write their next chapter the same way they started 10 years ago.
E's surprise return, and harsh sendoff, were the boost they needed to trudge forward as a duo. As usual, they needed to do this their way and stop resting on their laurels.
It was brutal and emotional, but the move was a return to The New Day's roots. After all, Woods declared it was time to forget about the past and look to the future in their initial vignettes in 2014.
In fact, Woods has been trying to encourage his partner to do just that for weeks. Like his original pitch to start the stable, he has been adamant they must stick together and stop playing nice.
He and Kingston are both Dragon Ball Z fans. Their fandom influenced their most recent gear–an homage to Goku and Goku Black–and the Saiyan armor they sported during their unforgettable entrance at WrestleMania 32.
A fan recently pointed out that Kingston has been wearing a chain adorned with the Majin symbol lately. This reference to the anime series is significant because the character Vegeta had the marking on his forehead when he allowed himself to be possessed to return to his evil ways and become more powerful.
Straight away, it's exciting to imagine what The New Day could do next as heels because they were so much fun to watch after their turn in 2015. They always managed to create unconventional moments and exceed viewers' expectations.
So, it shouldn't come as a surprise that the two active members didn't split up in response to claims that it was time. Their anniversary segment celebrated their connection with the audience and proved they can still make us invest in their journey.
The fact that viewers can't wait to see what's next is a testament to their staying power and proof this was a much-needed change of pace.
Cody Rhodes has been an exceptional champion and the top protagonist WWE needed following Roman Reigns' historic run, but his storylines have been hit-or-miss.
We've defended his reign and praised his ability to defy the odds and remain hot in 2024. Most of his vocal critics would even agree that his title defenses have been spectacular, but many viewers want to see more intriguing stories.
Although the 39-year-old has carved out his own corner of WWE programming, SmackDown still undeniably feels like The Bloodline's show. That's largely because the faction gets a bulk of the screen time, and it still regularly opens and closes the show.
It's hard to argue Rhodes hasn't emerged as the face of WWE, but his feuds often come off as the B-plot on the blue brand. That's a valid complaint for someone who is holding the top prize.
Scheduling his upcoming match for Saturday Night's Main Event will further support some claims that he is still second in the hierarchy to Reigns. Nevertheless, his latest rivalry has been a step in the right direction for viewers hoping to see him in long-term storylines.
With that in mind, let's rank his feuds since he dethroned The Tribal Chief to become the reigning undisputed WWE champion.
4. Logan Paul
Rhodes and Logan Paul produced a tremendous match at King and Queen of the Ring in May, but the build left much to be desired.
Initially, it was unclear if the YouTuber would also defend his U.S. title. It's hard to tell if this was an example of the Mandela effect, but it was seemingly advertised as a champion vs. champion match at one point. The challenger even asked for the stipulation during the May 10 episode of SmackDown.
Regardless, Paul tore up their first contract, refused to put his belt on the line and goaded The American Nightmare into signing a new agreement his representatives had prepared. It was a clunky premise, but their exchanges often made up for this illogical development.
The host of Impaulsive made an ideal foil for Rhodes because his ego, excessive boasting and shameless product placement generated heat. In response, the champ didn't belittle his foray into wrestling or take him lightly.
Instead, he humbled him and called his bluff at every turn. This was easily Rhodes' weakest feud, but standing next to a pretender made him appear even more genuine.
3. Solo Sikoa
Although their match at SummerSlam was divisive, Solo Sikoa had a slightly better feud with The American Nightmare.
The leader of the new Bloodline became a thorn in Rhodes' side following the opening contest from Clash at the Castle. He pinned the champion at Money in the Bank, setting up their encounter at The Biggest Party of the Summer.
The major drawback to this period of his reign was that many viewers didn't want to see him mixed up with The Bloodline again so soon. Additionally, their weekly segments grew repetitive as the group would attack him and his allies just about every week, and then stand tall in the end.
This usually didn't make the second-generation star look like a competent champion or particularly bright because he kept falling for the same setup.
Still, their program did give us memorable moments like the introduction of Jacob Fatu, The Tribal Chief's return and the reluctant Reigns-Rhodes alliance at Bad Blood.
One could argue this feud did more to build anticipation for The OTC's return and advance his plotline with Sikoa ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames. Nonetheless, its clear direction and eventful arc still place it firmly ahead of our last entry.
2. AJ Styles
After Rhodes returned to WWE at WrestleMania 38, AJ Styles quickly topped most lists of dream opponents for him.
The two have wrestled for most of the same companies and traveled in the same circles, but they always just missed each other. Once they were finally on the same brand, The Phenomenal One won a tournament to become the first challenger for the new champion.
Their first-time matchup at Backlash France didn't disappoint. The stellar in-ring action and the electric atmosphere the LDLC Arena crowd in Lyon provided made it an early contender for match of the year.
However, their rivalry escalated in the weeks following King and Queen of the Ring. On the May 31 episode of SmackDown, Styles took a page from Mark Henry's playbook when he faked his retirement to force Rhodes and SmackDown general manager Nick Aldis to grant him a rematch.
The subsequent "I Quit" contest at Clash at the Castle wasn't quite as good as their first encounter, but this feud lived up to the hype. So much so that we would love to see a third match.
1. Kevin Owens
Rhodes' current angle with Kevin Owens is the best balance of great in-ring storytelling and segments that blur the line between fiction and reality.
The Prizefighter is one of the most compelling characters in pro wrestling because his promos are believable and he often says what the audience is thinking. It may sound cliche now, but the best villains don't think they're evil.
Owens is a relatable antagonist because his motives seem justified, and he explains them with such passion and conviction. Even when we're supposed to root against him, the Canadian star comes across as the everyman we want to succeed.
That's such an interesting departure for this title reign because Rhodes usually fills that role in comparison to his opponents, who have all been clear-cut heels up to this point. KO is the first challenger who truly made us question his intentions and pushed him to act uncharacteristically defensive.
Their first match was built around their real-life friendship and his history of turning on his good friends for an opportunity to become champion. This dynamic paved the way for entertaining segments and an excellent match at Bash in Berlin on August 31.
Still, this feud improved exponentially after the backstage footage of Owens attacking Rhodes after Bad Blood surfaced. This was a brilliant way to reignite their conflict after the uneasy conclusion to their first match.
The two will face off on Saturday Night's Main Event's re-debut to NBC on Dec. 14 in a showdown that will keep us guessing what's next.
