Kofi Kingston Drops 'Kingston' Name, Fully Embracing AEW Identity

Key points

• Kofi Kingston removed 'Kingston' from his Twitter handle on August 31, 2026, posting a video of the change with the message 'Here’s to new beginnings… 🥂'.
• The name change followed his debut at AEW All In 2026 at Wembley Stadium, where he and Austin Creed won the AEW World Trios Championships with Swerve Strickland.
• Austin Creed (formerly Xavier Woods) had already reverted to his ring name, while Kofi’s move signals the end of his 'Kingston' identity.
• The duo left WWE in May 2026 after years as The New Day, citing AEW’s tag team division as a key reason for the move.
• The New Level is set to defend their titles against The Rascalz on AEW Dynamite.

Background

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods (Austin Creed) parted ways with WWE in May 2026 after years as The New Day. They signed with AEW and were set to debut at All In 2026 in London, teaming with Swerve Strickland in a Trios Roulette Royale. Their debut marked Kofi’s first non-WWE match since 2006 and Woods’ first since 2010.

How outlets are covering it

Ringside News emphasizes the symbolic nature of Kofi’s name change as a final break from his WWE identity. AEW’s official coverage highlights the surprise and success of their debut, noting the crowd’s reaction and their immediate title win. Cageside Seats reports on the positive backstage reception of The New Level, with AEW staff praising their professionalism. Fightful focuses on the duo’s quotes about leaving WWE, emphasizing their desire to be part of AEW’s tag team division.

Why it matters

The name change and immediate title win signal a major rebrand for Kofi and Austin Creed, marking a fresh start in AEW and potentially reshaping the tag team division.

What to watch

The New Level will defend their AEW World Trios Championships against The Rascalz on AEW Dynamite. Their future in AEW will likely involve further matches and storylines in the tag team division.