Kofi Confirms WWE Wanted Him and Austin Creed to Accept More Than 50% Pay Cut

Kofi has now confirmed that the reported WWE pay cut offered to him and longtime tag-team partner Austin Creed was even larger than previously believed.

During a September 1 appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former WWE Champion said the TKO-owned promotion wanted the two New Day members to accept a reduction exceeding half of their compensation.

“I will say it was more than 50 percent, which a lot of people don’t know.”

Kofi did not reveal the precise percentage. His statement nevertheless resolves one of the biggest unanswered questions surrounding their WWE departures.

The original reporting established that WWE had offered Kofi and Creed reduced terms, but the widely circulated 50% figure was initially associated with an unidentified wrestler. Kofi’s firsthand account now confirms that the reduction proposed to him and Creed went beyond that number.

Ariel Helwani shared the interview clip following the duo’s arrival in All Elite Wrestling.

Compensation Was Only Part of Their Decision

Kofi acknowledged that money played a significant role in rejecting WWE’s proposed terms. Losing more than half of their compensation would represent a dramatic reduction for two performers with more than a decade of accomplishments, merchandise sales and promotional work behind them.

However, Kofi and Creed emphasized that their departure was also about wanting to wrestle.

They believed the proposed terms did not properly reflect their value, experience or ability to contribute both inside the ring and behind the scenes. The duo took pride in being versatile performers who could generate reactions as either fan favorites or villains while helping less-experienced talent develop.

Creed explained that the call concerning the pay reduction convinced him that remaining with WWE no longer worked for them. Spending months away from meaningful in-ring competition reportedly reinforced their desire to leave.

Cageside Seats’ coverage of the interview noted that both men repeatedly said their primary goal was to continue performing rather than quietly wind down their careers.

A Major Detail Is Finally Confirmed

Earlier reports suggested WWE wanted Kofi and Creed to restructure their contracts for considerably less money while transitioning toward community, promotional and public-relations appearances.

Until now, neither man had publicly confirmed the amount of the proposed reduction.

That uncertainty allowed some outlets and fans to question whether the reported 50% figure actually applied to The New Day. Kofi’s statement now makes the situation clear: the offer was not merely a 50% reduction—it was greater.

WWE has not publicly disclosed the proposed financial terms or responded to Kofi’s account.

Were Kofi and Creed Undervalued?

The size of the reported reduction is particularly notable because of everything Kofi and Creed contributed during their WWE careers.

Alongside Big E, they transformed The New Day from a struggling concept into one of WWE’s most successful factions. The group became multiple-time tag-team champions, major merchandise sellers and reliable representatives for WWE through media appearances and community events.

Kofi’s WWE Championship victory at WrestleMania 35 became one of the defining moments of his generation.

Creed, known in WWE as Xavier Woods, also helped expand the company’s presence in gaming and digital media through UpUpDownDown. His contributions reached an audience extending well beyond weekly wrestling television.

Both performers demonstrated that they could succeed as singles competitors, tag-team wrestlers, comedic personalities, serious villains and company ambassadors.

Asking them to accept a reduction exceeding 50% sent an unmistakable message about how WWE valued their future.

Betting on Themselves Again

Kofi admitted that leaving WWE created uncertainty.

After building such accomplished careers, he did not expect that he and Creed would be forced to prove themselves again outside the company. He ultimately decided that accepting an offer they considered unfair would contradict the message he gives his children about believing in themselves and pursuing their dreams.

The two wrestlers left WWE in May and made their AEW debut as The New Level at All In London on August 30.

Their arrival immediately opened new possibilities across AEW’s tag-team and trios divisions while allowing both men to establish identities outside the characters WWE controlled.

Their decision was not presented as one motivated by bitterness. Kofi expressed gratitude for the opportunities WWE provided and the memories they created during their time with the company.

Creed did reveal, however, that he did not receive a call, message or formal thank-you from WWE management before their departure.

The Bigger TKO Question

The confirmation will likely increase scrutiny of how TKO evaluates veteran WWE performers.

Companies have the right to negotiate contracts based on schedules, expected appearances and projected future roles. Wrestlers also have the right to reject offers they believe fail to reflect their experience, drawing power and physical sacrifices.

Kofi and Creed decided that losing more than half their compensation—while potentially wrestling less—was not an acceptable next chapter.

They chose uncertainty, creative opportunity and the chance to continue performing.

Now that Kofi has confirmed the actual reduction exceeded 50%, their decision to leave WWE and bet on themselves becomes considerably easier to understand.

Were Kofi and Austin Creed right to reject WWE’s offer? Let us know in the comments.

Were Kofi and Austin Creed right to reject a pay cut exceeding 50%?

• Yes—WWE severely undervalued them
• Yes—but leaving was still a major risk
• No—they should have accepted the reduced roles
• I need to know the complete contract terms