Breaking: The New Day, JC Mateo, and Tonga Loa Confirm WWE Departures Amid 2024 Roster Overhaul
Key keywords: The New Day WWE exit, JC Mateo WWE departure, Tonga Loa WWE release, 2024 WWE roster overhaul, WWE talent contract negotiations, professional wrestling free agents, WWE creative restructuring, TKO Group WWE operational changes
On November 14, 2024, WWE officially confirmed the departures of three high-profile talent groups and individuals: legendary tag team The New Day, rising NXT star JC Mateo, and former Bloodline faction member Tonga Loa, marking one of the most high-profile batch of exits since TKO Group Holdings completed its acquisition of WWE last year.
The New Day, composed of Kofi Kingston, Big E, and Xavier Woods, first debuted as a unit in 2014, and quickly became one of the most commercially successful and beloved acts in WWE modern history. Holding the record for the longest combined reign as WWE Raw Tag Team Champions at 683 days, the trio also notched multiple solo title runs, including Kingston’s historic 2019 WWE Championship win and Big E’s 2021 Universal Championship reign. Sources close to the team confirmed that their contracts expired at the end of October, and both sides failed to reach an agreement on a new deal, with the trio citing a desire to pursue new creative opportunities outside of WWE’s current programming framework, including potential appearances in independent promotions, All Elite Wrestling, and non-wrestling media projects.
For JC Mateo, a 28-year-old prospect who had been competing in NXT since 2022, his departure comes after months of reported frustrations with inconsistent creative booking. Mateo, who earned critical acclaim for his 5-star rated match against Wes Lee at this year’s NXT Stand & Deliver event, had reportedly asked for a main roster call-up and increased screen time as part of his contract renegotiation, requests that WWE’s creative team declined to commit to.
Tonga Loa, a member of the iconic Anoa’i wrestling family, joined WWE in 2023 as part of the expanded Bloodline storyline, and quickly became a fan favorite for his intense promo style and hard-hitting in-ring work. His exit is believed to be driven by a desire to reunite with his brother Tama Tonga in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where the pair previously held the IWGP Tag Team Championships seven times as part of the Guerrillas of Destiny stable.
WWE’s latest roster cuts come as the company continues to restructure its talent lineup under TKO ownership, with executives noting in a recent earnings call that they are prioritizing talent that align with long-term creative plans for the Raw, SmackDown, and NXT brands. Industry analysts estimate that all three departing acts will draw significant interest from competing promotions, with their 90-day non-compete clauses set to expire in mid-February 2025.
Featured Comments
I still can’t process The New Day leaving WWE. Their entrance music has been a staple of my weekly viewing for 10 years, and I’ve lost count of how many of their merch items I own. Fingers crossed we see them show up in AEW to take on The Elite next year, that dream match would break pay-per-view records.
WWE dropping JC Mateo is such a foolish call. That guy had all the tools to be a main event star for the next decade, his match with Wes Lee earlier this year was the best match NXT put on all of 2024. Whatever promotion signs him next is getting a future world champion, no question.
Tonga Loa’s exit is such a letdown for Bloodline fans. I was so excited to see him turn on Roman Reigns and challenge for the Undisputed Universal Championship, that storyline had so much potential. I’m happy he’s getting to go back to NJPW to reunite with his brother though, GoD is one of the best tag teams of all time.
This is such a clear sign of how much WWE’s priorities have shifted since the TKO takeover. The New Day was one of their top-selling merch acts for years, if they’re not willing to keep talent that over, we’re going to see a lot more big names leave in the next 12 months.