Killer Kross on Leaving WWE, WE WANT KROSS Chants, Scarlett, Life Is Fighting

“Sam [Roberts], you’re a good man. I don’t know what you’re doing in this business.”

“It feels so good to be here. It feels so good to be in the business, thinking about all the funerals that I wasn’t able to attend for the last eleven years in this business – all the holidays I missed. You know, I could have just started a YouTube channel; could have just jumped in there with AJ Styles. It feels really good, right? It’s awesome. It’s really good.”

Is it a work? Is it a shoot? These are the big questions that KILLER KROSS has raised several times within the wrestling business over the past 12 months. But when he turned down WWE’s contract renewal in favour of becoming independent wrestling’s hottest commodity, it was real.

A former two-time NXT Champion, Kross has blurred the lines of fiction and reality in every aspect of his multi-layered character. The frightening physicality and intensity of his in-ring work stem from a legitimate combat sports background – Kross holds a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu – while his unnerving calm and psychological manipulation draw from his past as a certified family mediator. He has studied psychology and anthropology, disciplines that feed his cerebral approach.

As a child, Kross was a fan of the then World Wrestling Federation, citing Bret Hart vs “Rowdy” Roddy Piper as his most-watched match. The Ultimate Warrior was his first hero, admired for his manic energy, but as Kross grew older, it was Diesel and Bret Hart he sought to emulate. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 265 pounds, Kross cut an imposing figure; success seemed inevitable once he pursued his childhood dream.

Kross began his professional career in 2014, debuting for Future Stars of Wrestling (FSW) before stints in Lucha Underground and AAA. In 2018, he signed with Impact Wrestling for a celebrated heel run. His chilling promos and cold-blooded demeanour set him apart; he became one of the company’s most compelling villains.

In early 2020, he signed with WWE and was introduced to NXT audiences as Karrion Kross following a series of cryptic video packages. Debuting alongside his real-life partner Scarlett Bordeaux, his entrance – complete with pounding drums, flashing lights, and Scarlett’s haunting vocals – felt like a gothic stage production.

At TakeOver:XXX, Kross defeated Keith Lee to win the NXT Championship for the first time. His reign ended abruptly due to a separated shoulder, but he returned stronger than ever, defeating Finn Bálor at TakeOver: Stand & Deliver to reclaim the title and become a two-time NXT Champion.

That same year, he was called up to WWE’s main roster, where his presentation changed dramatically. Scarlett was removed from his act, and Kross appeared on Raw in gladiator-inspired gear that drew baffled reactions from fans. His mystique, once his greatest weapon, was stripped away, and a shock two-minute loss to Jeff Hardy in his debut match derailed his momentum completely. By November, he was released from his contract.

Kross quickly returned to the independent circuit, delivering a string of acclaimed performances across multiple continents. Reverting to his Killer Kross identity, he restored the aura that had made him a star. He rebuilt his reputation in MLW and NJPW, and appeared as part of the Ric Flair’s Last Match pay-per-view.

In August 2022, Kross and Scarlett returned to WWE under the new leadership of Paul Levesque. He reignited his rivalry with Drew McIntyre, set his sights on Roman Reigns, and for a moment, it looked like Kross would finally get the run denied to him in 2020.

Despite an entertaining Philadelphia Street Fight at WrestleMania XL, disjointed booking hamstrung Kross’ Final Testament stable and ultimately forced its disbandment. In the months that followed, stop-start creative and limited television time hindered Kross and Scarlett, yet #WeWantKross soon trended No.1 on X, with signs appearing in arenas everywhere. For a brief time, it looked like a fan movement might propel Kross into a major storyline. But it wasn’t to be, and his match against Sami Zayn at SummerSlam would prove to be his last for the company.

After departing WWE in 2025, Kross became professional wrestling’s most sought-after free agent. He has produced his own YouTube documentaries – which have drawn over a million views – and continues to stand out wherever he performs, thanks to his distinctive blend of power, psychology, and cinematic presentation.

Outside the ring, Kross is articulate and reflective, often speaking about mindset, discipline, and psychology – subjects that lend further depth to his in-ring persona. Calm yet unpredictable, intelligent yet explosive, he embodies the fine line between control and chaos.

Killer Kross is a student of the game, a craftsman of character, and one of the most fascinating figures of his generation.

On Wrestling Life, the two-time NXT Champion and wrestling’s most dangerous free agent joins Ben Veal for an exclusive interview, opening up about his journey through WWE, life after the machine, and what comes next for Killer Kross. Including:

• How Scarlett changed his life

• Life-altering encounters with Sycho Sid and Eddie Guerrero

• Making his WWE dream a reality

• Dealing with poor creative

• How he feels about the “We Want Kross” movement

• Wrestling Sami Zayn at SummerSlam

• Writing his memoir Life Is Fighting

• Walking out on WWE

• His shocking return to Game Changer Wrestling alongside Scarlett.

Killer Kross: How Eddie Guerrero Changed My Life

Kevin “Killer Kross” Kesar reflects on a chance encounter with the late, great Eddie Guerrero as a young fan; a brief moment that helped shape him into the wrestler he is today.

“I left that conversation feeling like; even though we didn’t talk about anything of great substance; he was just so cool to talk to me, and so casually.

“That’s the kind of thing where, as you get older in life, you realise how much that means. I’ve always just thought that it was so cool to do that for a young kid.

“I try to be the same way; that was a good example to set.”

I Was Lonely Before Scarlett, Says Kross

Kross opens up about meeting and marrying Scarlett Bordeaux; and how finding love helped him overcome the isolation of life on the road.

“I always had this overwhelmingly suffocating feeling of loneliness, periodically, when I was on the road, and I never really told anyone about it.

“When my wife and I began dating and began working together, I didn’t feel like that anymore.”

I Made the WWE Dream Happen

Kross discusses the power of manifestation; the importance of purpose; and how he turned his childhood dream of becoming a WWE Superstar into reality.

“I realised that I had to do that thing I wanted to do since I was a little kid; which was become a pro wrestler.

“I really just wanted to be happy; and I realised that being happy was to have a goal in mind that there was some sort of sentimental purpose attached to. Then I just began to strategise.”

Former WWE Star Karrion Kross Speaks Out On THAT Main Roster Creative

Kross discusses his move from unstoppable monster in NXT to masked gladiator on WWE Raw; and how he tried to make the best of a baffling situation.

“I can’t say it was difficult, because there was no struggle involved with it. There wasn’t a choice to struggle; it was either do this, or not be here. My mentality at the time was to try and make the best of it.”

Kross: Why I Walked Away from WWE

Kross speaks about staying true to his values; his decision to walk away from WWE in 2025; and what personal growth really means.

“It’s important to maintain your own personal values and continue the pursuit of personal development.

“Because being an entertainer and doing all these wonderful things is not the be-all and end-all. It’s just a component in life; it’s not the pinnacle of life.”

Kross and Scarlett's Wild GCW Homecoming Moment with Shotzi & Cardona

Kross breaks down the shocking GCW Homecoming appearance that set social media alight; joining Scarlett Bordeaux, Shotzi, and Matt Cardona for one of indie wrestling’s most talked-about moments.

“It felt good to be among the hardcore fans and to be remembered; and to be accepted again. It was good to come back.” ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee Herbert is the author of Rampage — a heartfelt tribute to the glory days of the WWF’s first UK boom. Packed with moments, merch, and memories, it explores how a golden era of American wrestling turned a generation of British kids into lifelong fans. Lee’s writing is a celebration of everything that’s great about professional wrestling. Order your copy NOW! 

WRESTLING LIFE ONLINE: REAL TALK FROM REAL TALENT

Wrestling Life with Ben Veal shines the spotlight brightly and positively on those who shaped wrestling's past, drive its present and influence its future. Widely available, the show features honest, open and inspiring conversations with many of the sport's biggest names, including Kurt Angle, Rob Van Dam, Mick Foley, Lilian Garcia, Candice Michelle, Buff Bagwell, Doug Williams, Eric Bischoff and many more. The show is presented by award-winning journalist and content creator Ben Veal, co-author of Marc Mero's autobiography, Badd To Good: The Inspiring Story of a Wrestling Wildman.