WWE and AEW Rumors on New Day's Future, Randy Orton's Schedule, Royal Rumble in Phoenix

Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

Reported Internal AEW Reaction to Potentially Signing New Day

Amid speculation that Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods could be bound for AEW once their 90-day non-compete clauses with WWE expire, there is reportedly heavy support for the duo within AEW.

According to Fightful Select (h/t Steve Carrier of Ringside News), every single person from AEW who anonymously gave their thoughts about New Day was in agreement that they would love to see him in the company.

Given that information and the fact that AEW is the biggest wrestling promotion outside of WWE, it is reportedly considered the most likely landing spot for Kofi and Woods.

Two weeks ago, Fightful's Sean Ross Sapp reported that Kingston and Woods had mutually agreed to part ways with WWE, ending their 20- and 16-year tenures with the company.

It was later reported by Bryan Alvarez of Wrestling Observer Live (h/t WrestlePurists) that Kingston and Woods were asked to take a pay cut, but they declined to do so, which led to their departure.

New Day are among the most decorated and popular tag teams in pro wrestling history, and given AEW's emphasis on tag team wrestling, it seems like a logical landing spot.

In AEW, Kingston and Woods would have the opportunity to work with The Young Bucks and the team of Adam Copeland and Christian Cage for the first time, as well as FTR for the first time in several years.

Regardless of where Kofi and Woods end up, it will be a big deal, but there is likely nowhere they can make a bigger splash than in AEW.

Orton Reportedly Scheduled for May Appearance

Randy Orton has not appeared on WWE programming since losing to Cody Rhodes in the main event of Night 1 of WrestleMania 42 last month, but his hiatus may come to an end soon.

On WWE.com, Orton is now being advertised to appear on the May 29 episode of SmackDown, which will take place at Olimpic Arena in Barcelona, Spain.

Other Superstars advertised for the show include Rhodes, Drew McIntyre, Rhea Ripley, Jade Cargill and Tiffany Stratton.

Orton won the men's Elimination Chamber match to earn a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania, and Rhodes was solidified as his opponent when he beat McIntyre for the title.

It eventually looked as though Orton vs. Rhodes would be a friendly rivalry between two friends, but The Viper turned heel on the road to WrestleMania by viciously attacking Cody.

Former NFL star and current sports media mogul Pat McAfee was inserted into the storyline shortly thereafter as Orton's ally, and country music star then lent a helping hand to Rhodes.

At WrestleMania, McAfee attempted to serve as a referee after the regular official was knocked out, but when he did a slow count, Orton hit him with an RKO.

Rhodes went on to win the match and retain the title, but Orton punted him in the head afterward and stood tall with the title as Night 1 of WrestleMania went off the air.

Orton has not been seen on a WWE show since then, but based on the advertising, fans may finally get to hear his explanation for what went down at WrestleMania 42 on the May 29 edition of SmackDown.

Future Royal Rumble Reportedly Tabbed for Phoenix

The city of Phoenix, Arizona, is reportedly in line to host the Royal Rumble premium live event at some point in the future.

According to Alvarez (h/t WrestleOps), Phoenix is going to be the location of a Royal Rumble in a yet-to-be-determined year as part of TKO's agreement with the Arizona Sports & Events Alliance.

The location for next year's 2027 Royal Rumble has yet to be announced, which suggests Phoenix could potentially be the host city as soon as then.

Phoenix hosted the Royal Rumble on two previous occasions with the 2013 Rumble taking place at the Phoenix Suns' US Airways Center and the 2019 Rumble being held at the Arizona Diamondbacks' Chase Field.

Prior to this year, which saw WWE build a temporary venue for the first-ever Royal Rumble to take place in Saudi Arabia, the Rumble was held at large baseball or football stadiums for several straight years.

With the exception of the 2021 Royal Rumble, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, every Rumble from 2019 to 2025 was in either a baseball or football stadium.

That suggests Chase Field is the leading option when the Rumble returns to Phoenix, as the venue is capable of accommodating over 50,000 fans.