By mid-2014, the careers of Big E and Kofi Kingston were floundering throughout the midcard, accumulating both individual and tag team losses. The former seemed to not find his place after losing the WWE Intercontinental Championship at Extreme Rules 2014, and the latter continued to accumulate spectacular performances for the archives, but without that translating into titles or promotion to the main event positions.
On the July 21 Monday Night Raw that year, and after another loss in a tag team match, the encounter with another wrestler, Xavier Woods, would completely change the careers of the three wrestlers. Although their official presentation as a new team would not come until 4 months later, the seed of change was already planted.
Exactly one year after Big E's defeat, The New Day won the WWE World Tag Team Championship for the first time, defeating Cesaro and Tyson Kidd at WWE Extreme Rules 2015. Successful defenses of quality, including one inside the Elimination Chamber against 5 other teams, began to resonate with the WWE universe, which initially did not take their spirit with much enthusiasm.
By the time they regained their title at WWE SummerSlam 2015, just a month after losing it to The Prime Time Players, the villainous trio already had the favor of the audience, ahead of any existing formation in the main roster. A more comedic twist to their gimmick, with an excessive desire for positivity (in the style of Daniel Bryan's "Yes!" Movement), was the key to their success. Once again, we were witnessing the story of the villain who unintentionally becomes the crowd favorite.
On May 22, at WWE Extreme Rules 2016, The New Day will attempt to retain their belts against The Vaudevillains. Let us remember that their last televised title match took place on the Raw after WrestleMania 32, on April 4, over a month ago. And if everything goes as it seems (and many hope), Big E, Kingston, and Woods will keep their titles predictably until WWE Money in the Bank 2016. Thus, the path seems to be paved for them to become the team with the longest combined reign in the history of the championship they hold in 16 days.
The Vaudevillains as NXT Tag Team Champions
The current WWE World Tag Team Championship comes from the original one introduced in 2002 in order to give SmackDown its own award for its tag team division. Kurt Angle and Chris Benoit were the first to hold it by defeating Edge and Rey Mysterio in a memorable encounter. 44 teams have won it since then, with Paul London and Brian Kendrick holding the record for the longest reign at 331 days, back in 2007. The New Day have 267 days under this second reign, but adding it to the first, the result is 316 days. They are thus within reach of breaking the current record and establishing a new one that will start on June 2.
Paul London and Brian Kendrick / WWE ©
Will WWE bet on them to become the record holders of the tag team division? It seems clear that they are the cornerstone of it, and Vince McMahon's apparent lack of confidence in Aiden English and Simon Gotch makes it difficult for them to become champions next Sunday. For now, "The Unicorns" continue to be the best for business.