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“AAAWWWWWWWWWWWWW, SYDNEY! DON’T YOU DARE BE SOUR! CLAP FOR YOUR WWE NXT CHAMPIONS, AND FEEL THE POWER!
Australia received a long overdue visit from wrestling royalty on Monday, when the WWE Tag Team Champions and much-loved trio ‘The New Day’ took over Bondi Surf Life Saving Club.
And I don’t want to hear any of that ‘it’s all fake’ trash talk here thank you very much!
Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and the larger-than-life Big E have been part of the WWE fabric for over a decade, loved the world over. The New Day are one of the most successful Tag Teams in WWE history having won multiple championships, most recently Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods becoming WWE NXT Tag Team Champions. Arriving in Australia with their WWE Championship Titles in hand, the group are a pop-culture phenomenon and some of the most loved WWE Superstars bringing with them family-friendly grit, high energy and unmissable attire.
Oh yes, and their swivel hips.
With a full-size wrestling ring set up, and the iconic Bondi Beach in the background, the trio discussed all things wrestling, and spent time signing autographs, posing for photos and talking to their fans who had made the trek to see their heroes.
But aside from being some of the most talented wrestlers on the planet, they also have a lot going on outside of the wrestling world. Big E is currently the voice of Canon Wolf in the animated show Lazor Wulf, and Woods is one of the world’s fastest-growing internet streamers as well as has his own video game YouTube channel, ‘Up Up Down Down’.
Kingston began a charity with his mum called the CLICK, – Computer Labs and Integrated Centres of Knowledge, helping underprivileged children in his homeland of Ghana have access to computers and libraries.
“A lot of kids don’t have that aspect of life. And this in day and age technology is so prevalent, there are some kids that don’t see a computer until high school or beyond, there are kids that have never been to libraries, so we are just trying to put them on equal footing.”
But back to the ring, the wrestling superstars are currently in the country to help celebrate the launch of the WWE Network on BINGE.
Alison Hurbert-Burns, BINGE Executive Director said: “We’re thrilled to welcome WWE champions, The New Day – Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods and Big E to Australian shores with our very own spectacle on the iconic Bondi Beach, to celebrate BINGE becoming the new streaming home of WWE.
Photo: BINGE / Brett Costello
“We can’t wait to deliver all the WWE world-class entertainment to Australian fans, with every WWE Premium Live Event including this month’s anticipated Royal Rumble, available with a BINGE subscription starting from just $10 per month. Now fans can enjoy all their favourite WWE action plus the world’s best TV shows and movies on BINGE.”
Yours truly got to spend a bit of time with the guys, and as a fan of the WWE dating back to when Hulk Hogan picked up Andre the Giant in Wrestlemania III, I just had to ask what they think is the reason for wrestling longevity.
“It’s good vs evil, and that will never get old,” explained Woods.
“Regardless of the era that you are in – whether it’s the 80s, 90s or today – you understand there is a good guy and a bad guy. You understand argument means turmoil. That’s conflict, and that sells.
“I think it’s such a visceral thing because it is live. As with a TV show, they will film it and then ten months later you finally have twelve episodes, whereas wrestling is 52 weeks a year. It’s live every single week and people really resonate with that because they know how difficult what we are doing is and it’s that release, it’s being able to let go.
“Yes, you see somebody on the movie screen, it’s different than seeing a wrestling show. Going there, being in the front row, seeing the sweat fly and you know that this hurts, this is not something that you can walk away from all pristine. Our joints are killing us, and our backs are broken – and that resonates. It’s something everyone can relate to.”
Big E knows all too well about putting your body on the line for wrestling. In March last year, he suffered a broken neck during a suplex move gone wrong and has been on the recovery trail ever since. Thankfully he is on the mend and has been overwhelmed by the support he has received from his fans.
“I get emotional, it’s very beautiful,” said Big E.
“To get that kind of response from fans, to know that people care that much. I’ve been pretty fortunate, I have a great support system that made my recovery a lot easier, and honestly, it’s going to sound cliche, but to get that reaction from fans, it means so much to me.
“It makes me feel like I did something right, with my career, to get that kind of admiration and respect from fans means the world to me.”
Earning the ‘Mother of the Year award’, I was fortunate enough to take my nine-year-old son along, who is a passionate wrestling fan. Along with challenging and then beating Big E to an arm wrestle, he also got to ask what advice they would give to any aspiring wrestlers.
“I think it’s important to be an athlete in as many sports as possible and to have your body in the shape as you can,” said Woods. “A lot of people have the misconception that you can just come into wrestling, but if you have a good base….working out, whether you enjoy wrestling or rugby or cricket, whatever it is, just doing something so you have a better understanding of what your body at a high level of competition.”
“You have to believe in yourself,” said Kingston. “There are a lot of people that for whatever reason, will give you every reason in the world why you cannot be a wrestler. ‘You gotta make money, you have to climb the corporate ladder’ and all of these other things.
“Believe in yourself, and no matter what happens, focus on your goal and do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.”
The arrival of The New Day to Australian shores marked the first true reunion of the original New Day Tag Team in over a year and celebrates BINGE, home to the world’s best entertainment, becoming the new streaming home of the WWE Network with all WWE Premium Live Events, including Royal Rumble (January 29) and WrestleMania 39 (April 2 and 3), in addition to WWE Network’s original programming and a vast collection of archived content all available to stream on BINGE.
Royal Rumble is my favourite WWE Live Event, and I cannot wait to watch that on Sunday!