Big E has opened up about New Day’s heel turn and WWE exit.
The former WWE Champion recently spoke to Chris Van Vliet to promote his upcoming memoir titled How I Got Over. He talked about the reason he chose to write the book now, the dual meaning behind its title, the neck injury that ended his wrestling career and much more.
During the interview, the wrestling veteran was also asked about New Day’s December 2024 heel turn during the faction’s 10th-Anniversary celebration. The 40-year-old first discussed how they were able to create a moment of ‘real gravitas.’ Big E mentioned that even the people who know the business reached out to him at the time to ask if the whole thing was real:
I had so many people, people who know that what we do is a work, who were like, ‘Is this real? Are you guys actually talking? I know it’s a show, but is this real behind the scenes?’ But I love that we were able to really hook people. I think, unfortunately, you know, those guys were getting booed out of the building for the first several weeks. It’s the follow-up that, unfortunately, I don’t think went as well as we all would have liked.
It’s Not Our Ball: Big E
Big E then opened up about the disappointing follow-up to the big moment and the duo of Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods leaving the company as a result of it. The retired wrestling star revealed that he had made pitches to follow up on the angle. This included one idea where he would cost Kofi the Royal Rumble match as the high-flying star attempted one of his spectacular saves. The creative, however, had other plans, and the group was told it was something they could get to later
When asked if there was frustration with how the heel turn was handled and the eventual WWE exit of the duo, the former IC Champion said that he does not want to speak for his longtime partners. Though he did reference the reports about the duo being asked to take a pay cut. Without confirming or denying the whole thing, E said that he respects their decision:
I don’t want to speak for them. I know when the time is right, I’m sure they’ll have a lot of things to say. There are things out there about pay cuts and whatnot. I just know, look, this ownership is not the same ownership that existed when we first signed to the company. It is their company; it is not ours. So they make their decisions with how pay goes, and ultimately, we all have to abide by that, and you understand that it is not your ball.
It was not our ball when we first signed to the company. It is not our ball now. It is someone else’s ball to determine when you get in the game and how many carries you got. So they made a decision, and I just kind of want to leave that in their hands to be able to decide.
I can’t fully speak to a lot of that, but I think we, as performers, we all want to feel valued, you want to feel like people want you here, there’s a plan for you, and we’re going to compensate you accordingly. When you feel like that plan is not in accordance with your plan, or the money doesn’t line up with the way you see yourself valued, you have to make a decision on whether you’re going to say, “Yes, this is what I will accept, or “No, this is not what I’m going to accept. So they made a decision to step away, and I respect [that].
Big E later said that both Kofi and Xavier will remain his family, no matter what company they are working in or how old they get. He mentioned how their trio never had any real arguments during their time working together and they have many great memories from the period. E said that he just wants the two to do whatever makes them happy in their life after the WWE exit.