Xavier Woods Injury Forces Time Away From WWE

WWE Superstar Xavier Woods has been sidelined from in-ring competition due to a shoulder injury, as announced on Monday Night Raw. The news was revealed by his New Day teammate, Kofi Kingston, during a segment with Grayson Waller in Memphis, Tennessee.

Details of the Injury

Kofi Kingston explained that Woods has been battling the shoulder injury for the past three months and has been advised by medical professionals to take time off to allow for proper recovery. No specific timetable for his return has been given, but the phrasing suggests the injury is not a short-term one. Source

This isn’t Woods’ first experience with injury setbacks, having previously undergone surgery for a growth removal from his head towards the end of 2025. Source

Waller’s Comments

Grayson Waller added a provocative element to the announcement, reading a text message purportedly from Woods to the Memphis crowd. The message stated Woods wished he could be present but questioned how he could recover “in a place where the people can’t even recover from being ugly.” Source

Recent Competition

Woods’ last match was on January 31 in Saudi Arabia, where he teamed with Kingston and Waller in a six-man tag team match against Shinsuke Nakamura and the Motor City Machine Guns. Source His appearances had been decreasing in recent months, now clarified by this injury.

Impact on The New Day

With Elimination Chamber approaching, Woods’ absence creates a noticeable gap on Raw. The New Day will continue with Kofi Kingston and Grayson Waller, but will be missing a key element of their dynamic. Source

Grayson Waller and Kofi Kingston’s Relationship

Kofi Kingston has praised Grayson Waller, describing him as a star. He noted Waller’s popularity in Australia, where his name is widely recognized, and celebrated. Source Kingston also commented on Waller’s previous tag team with Austin Theory, noting it was a slow breakup and expressing happiness for Waller’s individual success. Source

Kingston emphasized the importance of adaptability for WWE Superstars, highlighting how quickly moments can become popular and the require to fully commit to any given gimmick. Source