In his first public comments since his WWE contract was not extended earlier this month, Karrion Kross expressed a positive and hopeful outlook on his future. Speaking with Tom Campbell of Cultaholic, the two-time former NXT Champion stated he is fielding a massive number of opportunities, a situation that has affirmed his perspective on the departure.
“I have to tell you, I feel very hopeful about everything happening right now,” Kross said. “The biggest problem we have is that we have such an abundance of work that we can’t do all of it right now, so we try not to double-book ourselves. There is tons of stuff coming in and we feel so supported. I’m looking forward to it. Everything happens for a reason.” During the interview, Kross was also promoting his new book, “Life Is Fighting,” which covers his life story up to his 2022 return to the company.
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His official exit on August 10, 2025, stemmed from a breakdown in contract negotiations. According to reports, WWE presented Kross with a renewal offer just one week before his existing deal expired. When he requested a detailed explanation of how the company determined its financial offer, the deal was rescinded. The negotiations also did not include his wife and on-screen partner, Scarlett, a change from previous agreements where they were treated as a package deal. Kross was reportedly also prevented from discussing the matter directly with Chief Content Officer Triple H.
The nature of the departure fueled speculation that it might be an elaborate storyline, but inside sources have confirmed the split is legitimate and “absolutely not a work.” Kross himself has been vocal about his free agency, expressing frustration that the “work” rumors caused some promotions to hesitate in offering him bookings.
With his status as a free agent now clear, Kross has begun filling his schedule. His first confirmed match is set for September 21, 2025, at the WrestlePro “Killer Smokeshow” in Rahway, New Jersey, where he will face Richard Holliday in a No Disqualification match. Following that, he is scheduled to debut for House of Glory in New York on October 10. He and Scarlett are also booked for a non-wrestling appearance at The Big Event NY autograph expo on November 15.
Beyond taking new bookings, Kross has made immediate moves to establish his post-WWE brand. On August 17, just a week after his contract expired, he released a new, independent entrance theme accompanied by a moody, cinematic music video that concludes with the phrase, “When one door closes.”
