Kofi and Austin Creed Win AEW Trios Titles in Debut at All In London

Key points

• Kofi and Austin Creed signed with AEW and debuted at All In: London on August 30, 2026, as the wild-card team for Swerve Strickland.
• The trio won the AEW World Trios Championship by eliminating the Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, and Wheeler Yuta) in a seven-team battle royal.
• The duo adopted the new team name 'The New Level' and entered to the song 'New Level' by A$AP Ferg.
• Kofi and Creed became the first wrestlers in AEW history to win a title in their debut match for the company.
• Their departure from WWE in May 2026 was reportedly triggered by a request for a pay cut, ending a 12-year run as a tag team.

Background

In May 2026, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods left WWE after 20 and 16 years, respectively, reportedly due to a pay cut demand. They became free agents 90 days later. Prior to their AEW debut, rumors circulated in late August 2026 that they were negotiating with AEW for an appearance at All In: London. Their departure was a significant shift for WWE's tag team division, as New Day held 12 tag team titles, including a record 483-day reign.

How outlets are covering it

Wrestling Inc. and Fightful Select initially reported the signing as a rumor in late August, confirming the deal was finalized just before the event. AEW and Fox News confirmed the debut and title win on August 30, highlighting the crowd reaction and the surprise nature of the wild-card entry. Bleacher Report emphasized the historical significance of the title win in their debut and the context of their WWE exit, noting they were the first to win a title in their first AEW appearance. All sources agree on the outcome but vary in emphasis: AEW focuses on the celebration, while Bleacher Report focuses on the historical context of their WWE tenure.

Why it matters

The signing of Kofi and Austin Creed represents a major acquisition for AEW, bolstering its tag team division with two of the most decorated tag team champions in WWE history. Their immediate title win in their debut signals a strong push to integrate high-profile free agents and provides a significant boost to AEW's brand ahead of future events like WrestleDream.

What to watch

Kofi and Austin Creed are now AEW World Trios Champions alongside Swerve Strickland. They are expected to be featured prominently in AEW's tag team division, potentially facing teams like The Young Bucks, FTR, and The Motor City Machine Guns. Their next appearances will likely be on AEW Dynamite or Collision, with WrestleDream in October 2026 being a potential venue for their first title defense.