Bobby Lashley has reacted to the New Day exit from WWE, describing the decision as a mistake and suggesting it could benefit another company in a major way.

Speaking on Good Karma Wrestling, Lashley did not hold back when discussing how WWE handled the situation involving Kofi Kingston and Xavier Wood.

Bobby Lashley New Day Reaction

“Oh man. It’s one of those things where it’s like, that was a fumble. That was a fumble. Bro, you retire those guys. You take those guys to the end and give them whatever they want, because they’ve given the business everything. I don’t think there’s a person in the business that says, ‘Aye man, I don’t like those guys,’ or, ‘Those guys treated me wrong,’ or, ‘Those guys weren’t good to me.’ There’s no one. And we saw that one time before when somebody else got released.

When somebody else got released, they had to bring him back because they were like, oh! This is a bad move. Well, this is a horrible move also. But it can be a great move for someone else. So at the end of the day, we might see some different mix-ups and the tag team division might become really, really, really strong and interesting in AEW, and if so, a tremendous amount of fans will go over there because they’ll start kind of saying, what’s going on? Isn’t this business built on respect? And if you have respect for the business, you have respect for the people in the business, and these guys should have a lot of respect in the business. So what’s going on?” Lashley said.

Lashley’s comments reflect a broader reaction across the industry following the exits of Kingston and Woods. Both performers had long tenures in WWE, with Kingston spending close to 20 years with the company and Woods around 16 years.

Their departure marked the end of one of WWE’s most successful tag teams. As members of The New Day alongside Big E, the duo built a legacy that included multiple tag team title reigns and record-setting accomplishments, along with a consistent presence across WWE programming for over a decade.

Lashley emphasized the respect Kingston and Woods have earned within the business, pointing out that their reputation among peers has remained strong throughout their careers. His view is that performers with that level of contribution and standing are typically retained and supported through the later stages of their run.

He also highlighted the potential ripple effect of their exit. Lashley suggested that another promotion could benefit from adding Kingston and Woods, specifically mentioning All Elite Wrestling as a place where their presence could strengthen the tag team division.

According to Lashley, a move like that could create new matchups and generate interest among fans, particularly if audiences begin to follow where respected talent chooses to go next.

Kingston and Woods have both issued public statements following their departure, reflecting on their time in WWE and their careers so far. What comes next for the two remains to be seen, but Lashley’s comments underline the belief that their value in the industry remains high.

Bobby Lashley Calls New Day WWE Exit a Fumble

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A new detailed report has revealed how WWE’s recent financial decisions have impacted talent, with a focus on widespread pay cut requests, contract changes, and strong reactions across the industry.

WWE Pay Cuts Draw Backlash

According to Fightful Select , WWE was tasked with shedding millions of dollars in payroll over the past month, and the cuts made in recent weeks were directly tied to that goal. The timing of these moves drew immediate backlash, as they came alongside reports of record-high stock performance for TKO Group Holdings and major increases in executive compensation.

While roster releases are widely accepted as part of WWE’s operating model, the additional step of asking talent to take significant pay cuts changed the conversation. Wrestlers were reportedly asked to accept major reductions, in some cases reaching seven figures, in order to remain with the company. Internally, those requests were met with criticism and skepticism.

The way these offers were presented has also raised concerns. Sean Ross Sapp reported that some wrestlers in recent years were approached about new deals while overseas, often earlier than expected. In certain cases, this created situations where talent felt they were being asked to make decisions before their representatives could fully review the terms. While this has been described as opinion rather than confirmed strategy, it has added to concerns about how negotiations are handled.

On the day of the latest releases, WWE reportedly approached numerous wrestlers and asked them to accept reduced deals to stay. Several were given as little as two days to decide, creating pressure to make significant financial decisions quickly.

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods chose not to accept those terms and instead left WWE. Their decision meant walking away from millions of dollars that remained on their contracts over the next four years. The situation has drawn comparisons to Karrion Kross, who previously said he was given only one day to decide on a contract offer.

Another key issue involves talent who had recently signed new deals, including Kingston, Woods, and Santos Escobar, in some cases without exploring options with other companies. With WWE later reducing or ending those deals, it raises questions about how that impacts their leverage in the market.

Several talent representatives noted that the approach may not be beneficial from a competitive standpoint. The argument raised was that WWE would typically want rival promotions like All Elite Wrestling to spend more to acquire talent, rather than making those performers available at a lower perceived value.

The report also confirmed that no specific names have been publicly identified as having accepted pay cuts. The New Day situation became widely known because their move to WWE’s alumni section made their departure easier to verify.

There was also internal frustration regarding how the departures were handled publicly. One source expressed disappointment that WWE did not formally acknowledge The New Day’s contributions. Another indicated that internal communications praising the duo had taken place and that a joint statement had been expected but never released.

Additionally, several longtime veterans — including some recovering from injuries — were reportedly among those asked to take pay cuts, further contributing to the reaction within the industry.

Finally, the report noted that there has already been internal interest within AEW in bringing in The New Day following their departure, highlighting how quickly the situation has extended beyond WWE.

The overall picture presented is one of a rapid payroll reduction effort driven by internal financial goals, with significant consequences for talent decisions, contract negotiations, and industry perception.

WWE Pay Cuts Draw Backlash Amid TKO Financial Gains

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