Big E's WWE Status Revealed Following The New Day's Releases

While Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are on their way out of WWE, Big E won't be following his former New Day stablemates out of the company.

WrestleVotes Radio on Fightful Select has reported that the belief within WWE is Big E will remain a part of the Kickoff shows before WWE events. The former WWE Champion is seen internally as a valuable presence and a key reason behind people's enjoyment of the pre-shows.

Big E has been a Kickoff show host since he suffered a broken neck on a March 2022 episode of Friday Night SmackDown following a belly-to-belly suplex from Ridge Holland. Big E has not been cleared for an in-ring return since the injury as his neck has not ossified, and the 40-year-old considers himself to be retired from professional wrestling.

It emerged on Saturday, May 2 that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods had been granted their releases from WWE. This came after WWE approached the New Day about accepting a pay cut, which the New Day turned down and instead asked to be let go from the company. There was reportedly a joint statement planned to announce the New Day's WWE exits, but the statement did not come together.

Kington and Woods were two of several talents who were approached by WWE about pay cuts, with it being reported the offer was very much an ultimatum of accept a pay cut or be let go.