Add The New York Post on Google It’s a new day in AEW.
It was not about when and how the future Hall of Fame WWE team debuted – but about who they debuted with.
Kofi Kingston (now Kofi) and Xavier Woods’ (Awesome Austin Creed) arrival in AEW had felt inevitable from the moment the veteran stars chose to leave WWE in May.
The multi-time tag team champions reportedly chose not to take the pay cut offered to them by parent company TKO just one year into a five-year contract.
The duo made their debut in the Trios Championship Roulette Royale that began during the Buy In preshow and spilled into the main card of All In, AEW’s biggest show, from Wembley Stadium in London on Sunday. They are offically known as The New Level and entered to “New Level” by A$AP Ferg feat. Future.
Prince Nana lifted Kofi up like a wheelbarrow to ensure his feet didn’t hit the ground in the battle royale-style match. It was reminiscent of what we have seen from Kofi at Royal Rumbles.
Their teammate, Swerve Strickland, was the most important piece of it all as the group answered the former AEW World champion’s rival, “Hangman” Adam Page, Bandido and Brody King’s Trios championship challenge along with five other teams.
Awesome Austin Creed and Kofi debut at AEW All In. AEW/X “We are gonna turn this whole s–t upside down,” Strickland said to the camera. “This is where the money is.”
Teaming with Strickland, who calls himself “The Most Dangerous Man in AEW,” has invaded Page’s home and had some of the most violent matches in company history, sends a clear signal that Kofi and Creed won’t be throwing pancakes, sporting unicorn horns and pushing rainbows and cereal in AEW.
The trio, if they stay together, could easily line up for a match with The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) at All Out on Sept. 26 from Chicago’s Now Arena.
While they will have their fun – because fans certainly want to see it – this should be a much more serious presentation as the 45-year-old Kofi and Creed, 39, work outside WWE for the first time since 2006 and 2010, respectively.
The New Level joined Swerve Strickland an Prince Nana. AEW/X They join an AEW tag and trio division brimming with talent, from dream matches with The Young Bucks, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage to potential clashes with Motor City Machine Guns, the Hurt Syndicate, the Rascalz, FTR and on the trios side, there is the Bang Bang Gang, the Death Rider and The Don Callis Family.
Kofi and Creed should certainly be motivated to show they have plenty left in the tank after their unceremonious WWE exit and booking after the company did little with them after one tag title reign after their fantastic heel turn in December 2024.
The New Day weren’t the only surprise, as Dr. Britt Baker also made her return after a nearly two-year absence from TV that came without much explanation from her or AEW president Tony Khan. Baker, as a masked figure, helped CMLL women’s champion Persephone stunningly beat Mia World for the TBS championship to become a double champ.
Baker then got in the ring and put her signature Lock Jaw submission on World before revealing herself to a big pop. She later aligned herself with Persephone during a backstage promo and they called out fellow rival Thunder Rosa.
Former AEW Women’s World champion Thekla also returned during the Buy In, cutting a promo on the preshow desk.
