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WWE Pushes Pay Cuts as New Day Departures Expose TKO Cost Squeeze

Reports of steep reductions and two-day deadlines signal a shift that is shaking talent confidence.

Overview

  • Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, the New Day duo, shared farewell messages Monday after parting from WWE following requests to restructure their contracts.
  • Fightful reports WWE’s parent, TKO, asked numerous wrestlers to take reduced deals on the day of mass releases and gave several of them only two days to decide.
  • PWInsider reported a “majorly pushed” performer was asked to take a 50% pay cut and allegedly accepted, though the name was not confirmed publicly.
  • Fightful says WWE planned but did not issue a joint public statement on the New Day’s exit, and the company instead expressed its thanks to them in private.
  • New pay-cut demands drew sharp backlash as filings showed big year-over-year jumps in TKO executive pay, and multiple outlets say this approach is eroding trust in long-term contracts and is likely to reshape future negotiations.