The New Day, a three-man faction comprising Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods are one of the most successful teams in the tag team division. They hold the record for the longest tag team title reign in the history of the wrestling promotion. Originally, a part of RAW after the brand split the New Day shifted to Shane McMahon’s show as a part of the Superstar Shake-up in 2017 and captured the tag team titles in no time.
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The New Day won their third SD Live tag team championships when they defeated the Bludgeon Brothers (Harper and Rowan) in a No DQ match on SmackDown Live. Their reign lasted 56 days before the team of Sheamus and Cesaro won the titles with an aid from the world’s largest athlete, Big Show on SmackDown 1000.
In this article, I will analyze the best and worst moments of the trio’s reign at the helm of the division-
#1 Best - Their match against the Bludgeon Brothers
Around August 2018, no team on the blue brand could step up to the Bludgeon Brothers. WWE Creative booked Harper and Rowan as an invincible unit, however, a real life injury to Erick Rowan forced the writers to alter their plans.
After retaining the titles via disqualification at WWE SummerSlam 2017, the Bludgeon Brothers defended their crown against the New Day in a no DQ match. Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston represented the New Day in the extreme match-up. The Unicorns displayed some incredible moves as they put on a tough fight for the two giants. Rowan worked the match despite being injured yet took huge bumps especially the one where he crashed himself into the barricade in the closing moments of the match.
Xavier hit a picture perfect elbow drop to Luke Harper through the table to win the match and the titles for the New Day.
#1 Worst - Booking their title defenses on PPV Kick-off shows
The reason for booking New Day’s matches on the pre-show is unknown, but this wasn’t the first time that the WWE Creative committed such a crime. At SummerSlam 2017, the New Day and the Usos’ classic match took place on the kick off show undervaluing the blue brand’s tag titles. Instead of stretching the main event at HIAC 2018, the Creative team could have allotted some time to the two teams on the main card to display their talent.
WWE Super Show Down had no pre-show which helped the New Day to have a place on the main card. Despite performing better than a majority of superstars, Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods have always received “B” treatment from the writing team.
#2 Best - A Royal Welcome to Booker T's five-timers club
After defeating the Bludgeon Brothers, the New Day not only became three-time SD Live tag team champions but also 5 time WWE Tag Team Champions. On the succeeding episode of the New Day’s title triumph, the trio entered through the ramp throwing pancakes around the arena. But Big E, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods got a huge surprise when WWE Hall of Famer Booker T’s music hit. The king made his royal entrance and welcomed the new tag team champions to his five timers club.
Booker T is a former five-time WWE World Champion and thus came out to declare five-time tag champs the New Day as the new members of his group. The tag team champions then joined the Hall of Famer in a funny Spinaroonie-off.
#2 Worst - The Mr. Bootyworth Segment
On the 2nd October edition of SmackDown Live! the New Day came out in the ring and introduced Mr.Bootyworth the man who taught them the recipe of making pancakes. Before their tag team championship match at Melbourne, Australia the New Day premiered the first episode of "New Day Cooks" where they introduced the man who was responsible for cooking all the pancakes that the trio dispersed in the WWE Universe. Mr.Bootyworth was asked to share the special recipe but was the Bar interrupted him and destroyed the New Day and their pancakes.
The European duo confronted Mr.Bootyworth after wiping out Big E, Kofi and Xavier. They insulted the cook and dropped the entire batter on him. This was an awful segment to watch and was one of the poorest build-ups for a PPV match on a go-home show. Later, it was revealed that Mr.Bootyworth was none other than Mick Foley’s son Dewey Foley.
#3 Best/Worst - The end of their reign
The Bar defeated the New Day in an SD Live tag team championships match on SmackDown 1000. WWE Creative loves to have a title change hands on their historic episodes. The team did the same with the Intercontinental Championship on SD 900 and RAW 25. However, the way they executed this title change raised many eye-brows. Big Show came out in the middle of the match and turned heel after helping Kofi Kingston who was lying outside the ring. Show put him through an announce table to set up the Bar’s victory. Sheamus Brogue Kicked a distracted Big E to win the match for his team.
The New Day’s character had been going staler day by day and the blue brand’s tag team division needed a fresh face at the top. With the formation of “ShowBar”, the WWE Universe is excited to see what would be the next chapter in the “New Day vs Bar” feud.
How high do you rate the New Day’s 3rd reign with the SD Live tag team championship? Share your views in the feedback section below.