The New Day stands as WWE’s longest-reigning tag team champions, a remarkable achievement that only scratches the surface of their revolutionary impact on professional wrestling. What began as a struggling three-man team in 2014 evolved into one of wrestling’s most successful factions, with Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E transforming themselves from audience punching bags into record-breaking champions and cultural phenomena.
Their decade-long journey represents one of wrestling’s most compelling reinvention stories. After facing brutal rejection from fans during their initial run as positive-minded babyfaces, The New Day made a pivotal decision that would alter their trajectory forever: they embraced the negativity and transformed it into their greatest strength.
The group’s initial struggles in late 2014 quickly gave way to innovation when they turned heel in April 2015. Fans’ mocking chants of “New Day Sucks” became part of their identity, and within months, they captured their first WWE Tag Team Championship from Tyson Kidd and Cesaro at Extreme Rules. This victory marked the beginning of an unprecedented run of success.
Their mastery of entertainment reached new heights during their second championship reign, which began at SummerSlam 2015. The 483-day reign set a WWE record and introduced iconic elements like Francesca the trombone and Booty-O’s cereal, transforming what could have been simple comedy props into memorable pieces of wrestling history.
The faction’s influence extended beyond tag team competition. In 2019, Kofi Kingston’s WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 35 marked a historic moment, while 2021 saw Big E claim his own WWE Championship and Xavier Woods win the King of the Ring tournament. These individual achievements demonstrated the group’s ability to succeed both collectively and separately.
Despite facing challenges and brand splits threatening their unity, The New Day’s bond has remained unbreakable. However, tragedy struck in March 2022 when Big E suffered a career-threatening broken neck during a match on SmackDown. The horrific injury occurred when a belly-to-belly suplex went wrong, fracturing his C1 and C6 vertebrae. While Big E has maintained his characteristically positive outlook throughout his recovery, his in-ring future remains uncertain, marking one of the darkest moments in the group’s decade-long journey.
Big E Remains Hopeful He Will Wrestle Again
Their resilience continues to show through recent storylines, with Kingston and Woods engaging in a compelling program with The Final Testament, proving their ability to remain relevant and evolve after a decade of competition.
The numbers tell an impressive story: 12 WWE-branded tag team championships and numerous individual accolades. However, The New Day’s true legacy lies in their ability to consistently reinvent themselves while maintaining their core identity. From embracing fan negativity to pioneering new forms of wrestling entertainment, they’ve created a blueprint for longevity in modern professional wrestling.
Here’s to 10 more years of The New Day.
