WWE Hall of Famer JBL believes Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods will become even bigger stars outside WWE following their departures from the company.
Speaking on Something To Wrestle, John Bradshaw Layfield admitted he was surprised to see members of The New Day leave WWE, saying he expected both men to remain with the company for life.
“Yes, 100% yeah. I figured they’d just be lifers there,” JBL said. “So if they’re betting on themselves, good for them. They’re going to be absolutely fine, because those are incredibly talented people.”
JBL then shared a personal story about just how globally recognisable Kingston had become during the height of KofiMania. The WWE Hall of Famer recalled being in a remote area of Malawi, far from electricity and running water, when local children recognised Kingston’s name.
“One of the kids goes, Kofi,” JBL recalled. “Then another kid goes, New Day. You got to be kidding me.”
JBL said the moment reinforced how globally successful Kingston and Woods had become during their WWE run.
“KofiMania was legit,” he said. “He is a freaking global superstar. So is Xavier Woods.”
The former WWE Champion also addressed the reality of contract restructures and pay cuts within wrestling, explaining that performers are ultimately employees rather than permanent fixtures within a company.
“It’s a corporation mindset,” JBL said. “You’re not adopted, you’re hired, and that always comes to an end.”
Kingston and Woods officially left WWE earlier this month after reportedly declining proposed pay cuts tied to long-term contracts they had signed the previous year. Since then, several wrestlers across the industry have publicly praised the duo and expressed interest in potentially working with them elsewhere in the future.
JBL Recalls Being Asked To Take A Pay Cut By John Laurinaitis As He Was About To Undergo Surgery
JBL additionally shared a story about his own experience being asked to take a pay cut by former WWE executive John Laurinaitis while preparing to undergo surgery. According to JBL, he initially believed the timing was intentional, but later learned that Laurinaitis was unaware he was about to enter surgery.
“Laurnatis calls me and says, ‘Hey, we’re going to restructure your contract,’ you know, they never say, we’re giving you a pay cut, man, I’m just like, you gotta be kidding me… I was pissed off about that forever, for quite some time, because I thought it was on purpose. It turns out it wasn’t.”
