Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, JC Mateo & more part ways with WWE in new wave of layoffs
(Courtesy : Getty)
The departures continue with high-profile exits.
In the aftermath of WrestleMania 42, WWE released a total of 25 superstars, from the main roster as well as from the developmental brands. Some of their contracts expired, and the promotion opted not to extend them, while others were laid off.
However, just when fans were still reeling from the earlier departures, including major names like Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, the entire Wyatt Sicks faction, Alba Fyre, Apollo Crews, Santos Escobar, Zoey Stark, the Motor City Machine Guns, and even fan-favorite Kairi Sane, another wave of releases has now hit.
The New Day mutually agreed to part ways with WWE
According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select and Cory Hays of BodySlam, New Day’s Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have mutually decided to part ways with WWE. Additionally, Bryan Alvarez of the Wrestling Observer has confirmed that Kingston and Woods chose to part ways after being asked to modify their contracts.
“We can also confirm that in the case of New Day, it was their decision to leave based on what TKO was offering for a new deal. To be specific, New Day’s deals were not up. They were asked to restructure to TKO deals, they didn’t like the deals, so they were then granted their release.”
Sapp and Hayes have also reported that Tonga Loa and JC Mateo, part of Solo Sikoa’s MFT, are also among the group of recent departures. While Tonga has been with the company since 2024, Mateo made his debut in 2025 and now departs almost a year after his debut.
Woods, Kofi, Mateo, and Tonga have all been moved to the alumni section on the WWE’s website. Furthermore, regarding Woods and Xavier’s departure, Bodyslam reports that many across the wrestling world are said to be surprised by the departures of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, as they were widely expected to finish their careers in the promotion.
With their exits, several promotions, including AEW, are now anticipated to pursue signing the legendary tag team once they become available. Below are some of these reactions from fellow WWE stars and other stars from the pro-wrestling world:
All superstars released after WrestleMania 42 so far
- Aleister Black
- Zelina Vega
- Kairi Sane
- Bo Dallas (Uncle Howdy)
- Nikki Cross
- Joe Gacy
- Erick Rowan
- Dexter Lumis
- Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin)
- Santos Escobar
- Zoey Stark
- Alba Fyre
- Apollo Crews
- Andre Chase
- Dante Chen
- Tyra Mae Steele
- Chris Island
- Tyriek Igwe
- Trill London
- Sirena Linton
- Luca Crusifino
- Malik Blade
- Tyson Dupont
- Carlee Bright
- Kofi Kingston
- Xavier Woods
- JC Mateo
- Tonga Loa
This list will be updated if more departures are announced.
How many superstars were released in the latest layoffs?
A total of 29 superstars have been released after Mania, as per the latest update.
Did WWE release Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods?
No, per Bray Alvarez of the Observer, Kingston and Woods’ deals with WWE were not up, but they were asked to restructure into TKO deals. They didn’t like the terms, so they were granted their release.
Are more superstars being released as part of recent layoffs?
As of now no new information regarding any moe release are known, we will provide an update once there is any new information.
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Abhijit Singh is a budding sports journalist with over three years of experience in the field, and a photographer capturing stories through his lens since 2018. With a background in philosophy and political science, he brings a thoughtful, analytical edge to his reporting where every word is guided by curiosity and intent. Whether he's capturing the emotion of a moment or unpacking the deeper narratives within the game, Abhijit’s work is rooted in insight and passion. When he’s not covering sports, he’s often exploring new ideas through reading, traveling or just procrastinating.