WWE parts ways with New Day, Will Ospreay wins the title and more through professional wrestling

It’s a new day in WWE.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods left the company on Saturday after etching their names in the WWE tag team history books for several years. The duo have been tag team champions four times as a team and eight times when Big E is included in the group.

The New Day were fan favorites and held the tag team championship for a record 483 days.

But Woods’ injury ended New Day’s story after the team turned heel following their title win at WrestleMania 41. Kingston had teamed with Grayson Waller, but the two failed to win gold.

The news of their departure sent shockwaves through the world of professional wrestling, with reactions from stars of the sports business. It’s unclear where Kingston and Woods will land next, but there will definitely be two of the hottest free agents on the open market.

WWE also parted ways with Tonga Loa and JC Mateo in recent departures from the company.

LEGENDARY WWE TAG TEAM DUO LEAVES COMPANY IN LATEST WAVE OF CUTS

The hottest story in professional wrestling

El Grande Americano faces El Grande Americano during the WWE Royal Rumble at Riyadh Season Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on January 31, 2026. (Joe Maher/WWE)

WWE and All Elite Wrestling (AEW) have been hot over the past month, but the most interesting storyline in recent weeks has taken place at Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA) where El Grande Americano and Original El Grande Americano are just weeks away from an epic mask vs. mask clash.

On Saturday night, both wrestlers signed a contract, but there was an even bigger twist: El Grande Americano’s girlfriend, Andrea Bazarte, had her contract suspended so that she would be excluded from the next match.

The original El Grande Americano received support from the Creed Brothers. Brutus and Julius Creed put El Grande American through a table and celebrated as they seemed to have given some support to Original El Grande Americano.

Their rivalry will culminate at Rey de Reyes on May 30. This will be a no disqualification match and the loser will have to remove their mask. The two competitors competed against each other wherever they were featured.

The original El Grande Americano returned to WWE at the Royal Rumble in January with El Grande Americano already in the men’s Royal Rumble match. The original El Grande Americano eliminated El Grande Americano before being eliminated himself. Since then, the rivalry has been burning.

Darby Allin defends his title and takes on a new challenge

Darby Allin competes in the ring during AEW Collision on October 3, 2024, at the Huntington Center in Toledo, Ohio. (Frank Jansky/Icon Sportswire)

This was one of the best matches of the week as Darby Allin defeated Brody King for the AEW World Championship. The two tore each other apart as King sent himself through the barrier looking to do maximum damage to Allin.

Allin avoided the colossal attack, threw King back into the ring and hit him with two Coffin Drops and pinned King for the win. Allin is 2-0 after winning the AEW title against Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) last month. He dispatched Tomasso Ciampa the week before.

Allin may have his hands full with his next challenger.

Kevin Knight climbed to the top of the world title ladder after defending the TNT Championship against MJF. Both Allin and King stated that Knight would be next in line for the AEW title if either of them won the match. So, Knight gets Allin on Wednesday.

Knight watched closely in the stands as Allin took the win.

WWE NXT STARS TALKING STANDING AND DELIVING STANDING ACCORDING TO WRESTLEMANIA WEEKEND

Interesting changes coming to NXT

Blake Monroe enters the ring during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on January 13, 2026. (Mike Marques/WWE)

Blake Monroe, Ethan Page, Fallon Henley, Je’Von Evans, Joe Hendry, Lainey Reid, Oba Femi, Ricky Saints, Sol Ruca, Trick Williams have all been promoted to the main roster since the start of the new year.

As the new wave of talent arrives on the WWE main roster, the CW Network and WWE have announced some new changes coming to the brand. The company said NXT’s premium live events, like Stand & Deliver, The Great American Bash and Deadline, would be featured on The CW.

“The CW has played a vital role in increasing the visibility of our rising superstars, and we are thrilled to be able to broadcast NXT Premium Live events on television for the first time ever,” WWE Senior Vice President of Talent Development and Creative Shawn Michaels said in a press release.

ESPN later announced that it would partner with the CW Network to broadcast NXT events through its ESPN Unlimited app.

“Joining forces with ESPN is a monumental next step in the evolution of CW Sports,” CW President Brad Schwartz said in a press release. “The CW now offers more than 800 hours of live premium sports per year. This agreement expands the reach of CW Sports and allows us to capture audiences through the best of broadcast and the best of streaming, ensuring fans can access live CW Sports wherever they are and on the device they prefer.

“This new partnership will allow us to seamlessly connect with our audiences around the world, from football and basketball to motor sports, professional wrestling, bowling, bull riding and much more to come as CW Sports continues its exciting march forward.”

Will Ospreay’s Death Riders Angle Takes a New Twist

Will Ospreay speaks during a New Japan Pro-Wrestling event at Ota-City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on January 5, 2026. (Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)

Will Ospreay entered the Death Riders’ dojo after Jon Moxley gave him the opportunity to smash his head with a chair. Ospreay entered Moxley’s corner of the universe and began training with the faction attempting to add damage to his injured neck.

Ospreay made it clear to the leader of the Death Riders that he must support his brothers in arms, the United Empire, as they were featured at New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s Dontaku event this weekend. Ospreay was there to team with Henare and Great-O-Khan as they captured the NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Championship in a victory over Bishamon-in (Botlin Oleg, Hirooki Goto and Yoshi-Hashi).

Callum Newman challenged Ospreay to attack Shingo Takagi following Newman’s victory to retain the IWGP Heavyweight Championship, calling him “Death Rider Billy”. Ospreay obliged and struck Takahi with a hidden blade.

The fallout will surely be palpable once Ospreay returns to “Dynamite” later this week.

WWE STAR DANHAUSEN REFLECTS ON FIRST MONTHS WITH COMPANY AND GIVES UPDATE ON DANHAUSENETS

Other notes from a week of professional wrestling

• Becky Lynch defeated Iyo Sky to retain the WWE Women’s Intercontinental Title as Asuka interfered in the match on “Monday Night Raw.”
• Damian Priest and R-Truth defeated Axiom and Nathan Frazer to retain the WWE Tag Team Titles on “Friday Night SmackDown.”
• Brie Bella and Paige defeated Lash Legend and Nia Jax to retain the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship on “Friday Night SmackDown.”
• Four matches are planned for WWE Backlash, including a match between Danhausen and a mystery partner against The Miz and Kit Wilson. The Miz and Wilson launched an assault on Danhausen on “Friday Night SmackDown.”
• Myles Borne defeated Shaquon Shugars to retain the NXT North American Championship.

Lizzy Rain celebrates her victory during NXT at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Florida on April 28, 2026. (Kevin Sabitus/WWE)

• Lizzie Rain, the niece of Iron Maiden drummer Clive Burr, debuted on NXT.
• Kazuchika Okada defeated Ace Austin to retain the AEW International Championship on “Dynamite.”
• Megan Bayne and Lena Kross defeated Kris Statlander and Hikaru Shida to retain the Women’s World Tag Team Championship on “Dynamite.”
• Jack Perry defeated Mascara Dorada to retain the AEW National Championship on “Collision”.
• Willow Nightingale defeated the returning Anna Jay to retain the AEW TBS Championship on “Collision”.
• Kevin Knight defeated Hook to retain the AEW TNT Championship on “Collision”.
• HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. congratulated his niece Zoe Hines on joining WWE.

• “Broken” Matt Hardy returned to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) and attacked Vincent of The Righteous. Vincent was close to finishing off Jeff Hardy before Matt Hardy returned. It’s been a few weeks since The Righteous brutalized Matt Hardy.
• AEW’s Rebel revealed she was diagnosed with “terminal ALS” at just 47 years old. “Please continue to pray for a peaceful journey and a peaceful passing. I love you,” she said in a video posted to her Instagram account.
• JBL has pledged to make some changes if he becomes AAA’s new CEO. He wrote on 2. Make it legal to hit leprechauns with trash cans or anything you can grab and throw. 3. Make Ron Simmons the head of the treasury.

• Trevor Murdoch announced his retirement from professional wrestling on the latest episode of National Wrestling Alliance’s (NWA) “Powerrr.” The three-time NWA World Champion and former WWE star thanked fans for their support.
• Meanwhile, on the same NWA show, Gisele Shaw defeated Tiffany Nieveas to become the TV Women’s Champion.
• Andrade El Idolo defeated Yota Tsuji to become the new IWGP World Heavyweight Champion at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Wrestling Dontaku in Japan.
• Templario defeated Kushida at CMLL vs. MLW to win the Major League Wrestling World Middleweight Championship.
• Zamaya signed a deal with Major League Wrestling.

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• CMLL Women’s Champion Persephone is out of action indefinitely, according to AEW co-founder Tony Khan. Persephone got black mist in Julia Hart’s face during a tag team match last week. Persephone was scheduled to compete in Ring of Honor’s Survival of the Fittest tournament for a chance at the Ring of Honor Women’s Championship at Supercard of Honor.
• Miu Watanabe and Riku Tatsumi defeated The IInspiration to become the new Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling Princess tag team champions.