The Elite vs. The New Day Match Was Closer to Happening Than Fans Realized

The long-rumored bout between The Elite and The New Day apparently came much closer to happening than fans ever realized.

While speaking on Being The Elite, Matt Jackson revealed that The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega were actively trying to make a match against The New Day happen back in 2018 — including directly speaking with Triple H about it. According to Jackson, both sides were serious about putting the match together during a period when crossover speculation between WWE and The Elite was constantly growing online.

“We truly were trying to get a New Day–Young Bucks–Kenny match to happen—an Elite versus New Day match. Um, actively, like they said they were trying on their side. We were definitely talking to, you know, our bosses, even to the point in 2018 when we got on the phone with Triple H and we talked to him and said, ‘Hey, you know, we would really like to do this match.’”

Jackson then admitted that while the conversation happened, he got the feeling Triple H may have had a different goal in mind during those talks. Despite how serious the discussions became, the dream match never materialized.

“And I don’t know if he was necessarily interested in just doing that match. I think he was more interested in pursuing us, you know, to work for him, but we talked to him about it. So, like, we were serious about doing the match, and we thought we’d probably be able to do it, and unfortunately we never did.”

The comments immediately reignited discussion about one of wrestling’s biggest modern “what if” matches. For years, The New Day and The Elite openly referenced each other online, teased crossover ideas, and fueled fan demand for a potential showdown involving Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks against Kofi Kingston, Xavier Woods, and Big E.

Back in early 2024, Kofi Kingston openly admitted that facing The Young Bucks remained one of his biggest dream matches and even referenced WWE previously opening the “forbidden door” with Mickie James appearing while tied to TNA Wrestling.

“I mean I’m gonna give a copout answer here. There’s just so many possibilities, you know we’ve always wanted to have matches with The Young Bucks. Yeah, we’ve said that before. We say it all the day. They opened the door, they let Mickie James come here from TNA last year, not me. I can mention and talk about the kicking the forbidden door open, you didn’t shut it. So Imma come and peek through and see.”

Now, with The New Day recently parting ways with WWE and AEW figures excited about the possibility of finally making the match happen, the dream match suddenly feels more realistic than ever before.