Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods, now going by Kofi and Awesome Austin Creed under the “New Level” banner, just pulled off one of the most shocking debuts ever at Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday! They showed up at All In as surprise tag team partners for Swerve Strickland in the AEW Trios Roulette Royale, and by the end of the night, they were AEW World Trios Champions. It was an instant classic first impression.
They Didn’t Just Show Up, They Took The Belts!
Seriously, this wasn’t some slow burn. Kofi and Creed stormed into that Trios Roulette Royale, linked up with Swerve Strickland, and immediately dethroned “Hangman” Adam Page and Brodido. Like, bang! Belts! They’re officially the *first* AEW wrestlers in history to snag a championship in their very first appearance. To walk in cold and immediately claim gold? That’s not just a statement, that’s a manifesto. The professional wrestling world is absolutely buzzing, still processing how quickly these legends made their mark.
The Pay Cut That Ignited a Dynasty
This seismic shift actually started months ago. Back in May, both Kingston and Woods stunned everyone by leaving WWE after colossal runs of 20 and 16 years, respectively. The departure itself was wild, but the *reason* reported by Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live, via Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News, just added fuel to the fire: WWE apparently asked them to take a pay cut. A *pay cut*! For two guys who helped define an era! They became free agents 90 days later, then dropped an animated video on X screaming, “New chapter, coming soon!” As part of New Day, often with Big E before his serious neck injury in 2022, they were WWE’s most decorated tag team ever. We’re talking 12 tag team title reigns, including an insane record for the longest singular reign at 483 days. That kind of history doesn’t just fade, and now it’s being written in AEW colors.
Legends Unleashed on AEW’s Stacked Division
Let’s not forget the individual accolades these guys bring to the table. Kofi Kingston, at 45 years old, is a four-time intercontinental champion, a three-time United States champion, and, oh yeah, he won the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 in one of the most unforgettable moments ever. Woods, at 39, might not have held a singles title, but he definitely made his mark by winning the 2021 King of the Ring tournament. Now, all that incredible talent, that fire, and that clear chip on their shoulder from the WWE exit, is unleashed in AEW. And it’s not like AEW’s tag team division was lacking! You’ve got The Young Bucks, Cope and Cage, FTR, The Motor City Machine Guns, and a ton of other incredible teams. Kofi and Creed, as “New Level,” just instantly vaulted to a featured spot in that absolutely stacked lineup.
This isn’t just a debut; it’s a full-blown declaration. Winning trios gold on their very first night? That’s the kind of statement that echoes across the entire professional wrestling world. What’s next for Kofi and Creed? Every single tag team in AEW just got put on notice. This is just the explosive beginning of their next chapter.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply