Thoughts on the Sink-or-Swim era of WWE

Ricky Saints finally made his WWE main roster debut on Friday Night Smackdown, appearing in its opening segment to confront close friend and mega superstar Cody Rhodes. Saints drew a timid reaction from the Disney Adults and children in attendance, and would go on to lose his first match on the main roster to the Codester. I was preparing to write a long-form piece on how WWE was about to enter its sink-or-swim era with Saints serving as the avatar for my premise, when the stunning news broke the following morning:

The New Day and WWE had mutually agreed to part ways. 

The immediate reaction amongst fans and those within the industry was a mix of shock, disappointment, and ultimately hopefulness that the duo would likely continue on with All Elite Wrestling. That's not all, though. I couldn't help but notice a tone of resignation from both a devoted fanbase and the typical grifters who have spent the past three or four years touting the brilliance of Paul Levesque and Nick Khan. There seems to be a reluctant acknowledgment that TKO has a notorious past for doing to the UFC what they're about to do with WWE.

Then, various outlets reported that WWE had reached terms on the releases of Tonga Loa and J.C. Mateo, better known to wrestling fans as Jeff Cobb, both departing after less than a year in the company. They join a laundry list of now-former WWE superstars, discarded despite the company continually touting its success and superiority over the fugazi "sports entertainment" industry.  

There are a million different angles to cover, because make no mistake about it: this is a seismic moment for the WWE, its roster, and fan base, all of whom basked in the glory of being the hottest ticket in town throughout the last few years. It's also going to affect every single major wrestling promotion in the world. 

Let's start with Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. WWE is not only losing two of the most respected veterans in the entire professional wrestling industry, but also two incredible human beings who brought grace and goodwill to it when they 

never deserved in the first place. Fightful Select reported that TKO approached the duo in hopes of restructuring their contracts, and both were evidently unhappy with their renewal terms and decided to part ways with the only place they've called home for nearly two decades. 

This year's releases sends a very clear signal to the locker room: it does not matter who you are, because everyone - and I mean everyone - is expendable. Pro wrestling legend Kevin Nash echoed the following sentiment just a few days ago, saying, “I’m not stupid or naive. I understand that the bottom line has meant that it’s a business. Once it left Vince’s hands, no matter if you love Vince or don’t love Vince, from the boy’s standpoint, if you had a relationship with Vince and you were a guy that pushed those numbers, a (Shawn) Michaels, a Triple H, a Steve (Austin), a Taker, if you pushed those numbers, you had a relationship that was gold,"

Nash would continue with an even more biting comment with, "Now, I don’t think they [TKO] look at Steve [Austin] and [Under] Taker the same way. I’m talking about TKO, or as we now refer to it, The Adjustment Bureau; they just don’t show the appreciation. It’s almost kind of like having a President that has no experience in warfare. [They] just don’t get it.”

TKO would disagree with Big Daddy Cool's assessment and would likely make the exact opposite argument. They believe they get it, just as they've maintained throughout their ownership of the unrecognizable and increasingly declining UFC. The message has been sent loud and clear: it does not matter who you are, what you have done in the past, or what you may do in the future. All that matters is their bottom line, the number of zeroes at the end of ghoulish executive’s check.

It must feel incredibly disappointing to Kingston, Woods, and their now-retired partner Big E for their time to end this abruptly and unceremoniously. They all deserved a genuine farewell from a promotion they unwisely showed unflinching loyalty to. 

There is, however, a good chance they will continue on with their careers with All Elite Wrestling. The mind immediately jumps to a genuine dream match pitting the duo against The Young Bucks, a match I once feared would occur inside a WWE ring. They are likely going to be joined by fellow castoffs, The Motor City Machine Guns, who would join a tag team division featuring FTR, The Dogs, The Rascalz, Gates of Agony, Jurassic Express, Brodido, the Hurt Syndicate, Adam Copeland & Christian Cage, and more. 

This is a remarkable opportunity for Tony Khan to bring dedicated focus to the World Tag Team division. Noah Gilbert, 1/2 of the Wrestling Gilberts, suggested a tag team version of AEW's famed Continental Classic, and it's absolutely loaded:

Blue League:

Young Bucks
Rascalz
Bang Bang Gang
MCMG
The Dogs
Gates of Agony

Gold League:

FTR
Jetspeed
New Day
Roddy/O'Reilly
Brodido
Death Riders https://t.co/2OpWsGUDrr

— Noah Gilbert (@Noahgilberto19) May 2, 2026

Khan must do this, or something like it. It's an unbelievable opportunity to remake your entire tag team division in the same vein as the Men's World Championship division. We'll see if it comes to fruition.

It's also an opportunity for the duo to reinvent themselves. I would be less excited about them rehashing their WWE personas; to be clear, I'm not suggesting they become an unrecognizable act, but I would not want to see much of their comedic skits that were over with the WWE audience. I would like to see them return with fire in their eyes, the Bucks in the sights, and the tag belts to follow. I saw someone else suggest a pairing with Willow Nightingale, and I believe that's a tremendous idea. 

As for everyone else still currently employed by WWE, you have been put on notice. Get over, stay over, or you're done, except for the handful of legitimate ticket and ratings movers like Rhodes and Roman Reigns. Saints debuted in NXT on February 11, 2025, and didn't make his roster debut until well over a year later, and did not blow away the WWE fans in attendance. He must feel enormous pressure to get over as quickly as he can, because the executives at TKO likely do not view a 36-year-old with years of experience wrestling on national television as a young up-and-comer.  

The former Powerhouse Hobbs must be feeling the same pressure, as should every single person still employed. It certainly feels like the industry needs a legitimate third promotion, as TNA's "partnership" with WWE and its questionable finances keep it from being a viable contender. AEW only has so many spots on its roster, though there is always the chance of Khan finding a suitable network to air Ring of Honor. It would be wonderful if ROH could occasionally take in a seasoned employee or take a chance on a young but promising talent. 

This is going to get worse before it ultimately feels numb. If I'm a WWE Superstar, I have to wonder if I can trust Levesque and Shawn Michaels with my career. The D-Generation X duo has done a horrendous job overseeing their respective programming. I recently quipped how ridiculous it would sound if Anna Jay really made it clear to Khan that she has HBK's number, and it feels even more so following today's news.

If you're Jay, can you really trust that you'd ever sniff the WWE main roster and, if you did, you'd survive more than a year or two? You're going to jump ship to wrestle for a brand that is a shell of its former self, controlled by ruthless executives who don't care about you? I'd understand if she left for other reasons, but I'm unsure she has the leverage she believes she does. 

It would not shock me if more names were let go, and if those names were significant. TKO are their daddies, and they call the shots. Best of luck to all talent going forward.

It's a New Day. Yes, it is.