Kofi Kingston surprises Ariel Helwani by sharing the pay cut WWE asked him to accept.
Ariel Helwani couldn’t believe it when Kofi Kingston shared how much of a pay cut WWE asked him to take.
Back in May, WWE fans around the world were shocked when both Kingston and his New Day partner, Xavier Woods, left the company. At first, reports said they had “mutually agreed” to part ways after WrestleMania 42, during WWE’s tough round of budget cuts.
Many thought they were “WWE lifers,” so it was even more surprising when it came out that the real reason was WWE asking them to take a big pay cut as part of cost-saving moves.
At the time, reports said TKO, the company that owns WWE and UFC, told WWE to cut millions from payroll, leading to many popular stars leaving.
Now, Kingston has opened up about his WWE exit, sharing what the company actually offered.
“We just felt the terms they wanted us to accept weren’t fair considering what we bring to the table,” Kingston told The Ariel Helwani Show. “Based on our value, our experience, and what we do as performers – helping younger talent and entertaining fans, whether as heroes or villains.”
When their departure was first reported, people wondered exactly how much WWE had offered. Many guessed it was a 50% pay cut. But Kingston confirmed it was actually MORE than 50%.
“Pay was a big part, sure. But more than anything, we wanted to keep working. We love showcasing our skills and entertaining the fans. We love having fun, playing with the crowd, and giving fans unforgettable moments,” he added.
Talking about the salary offers, he said: “I don’t know all the details out there, but I can say it was more than 50%. A lot of people don’t realize that.”
Since leaving WWE, Kingston and Woods have joined rival company AEW, where they’ve already made their mark by winning the AEW World Trios Championship with Swerve Strickland.
It seems WWE may now regret letting them go. Wrestling insider TC of WrestleVotes shared that some WWE sources admitted they might have made a mistake.
He said during a Q&A for Ringside News: “I spoke with a WWE source who said this is the first time there’s real regret on WWE’s side about not bringing them back. This is also the first real split between TKO and WWE.”
While the details of Kingston and Woods’ AEW contracts aren’t public, it’s safe to say they’re earning much more than the big pay cut WWE offered just a few months ago.