WWE Superstar Karrion Kross is set to release his deeply personal new book, Life Is Fighting, on August 5th through ECW Press. The memoir offers fans an intimate glimpse into the man behind the character, blending storytelling with elements that resemble self-help, humor, and heartfelt reflection. Kross recently appeared on Wrestling Epicenter to discuss the journey of writing this book, the impact of Hulk Hogan’s passing, and his evolving perspective on life and love.
The Long Journey to Publish ‘Life Is Fighting’
Karrion Kross revealed that the book was actually completed in 2022 but faced delays before it could be published. He explained that his return to WWE played a significant role in timing the release.
“Actually, the book has been completed since 2022. I wrote it and then I was asked to return to WWE. And, I wanted to bring them in on it. For a variety of reasons that are very frustrating, it has taken this long to finally get it published. That is why it is coming out now.”
—Karrion Kross
Regarding WWE’s support, Kross acknowledged the corporation’s cautious review process, emphasizing the need to protect the company and its employees while respecting creative expression.
“They’ve been supportive of it. There is a chain of command whenever you are dealing with corporations. They have an obligation to protect themselves. It is not coming from an evil, malicious place. There are thousands of people all over the world working for this company – It is their livelihood. They need to look at it and make sure there is nothing in there that could be misconstrued, misunderstood, that could be inflammatory. Do you know what I mean? It is a safety measure. And, I respect the process. But, man, it just took so long!”
—Karrion Kross
The Memoir’s Unique Blend of Self-Help and Personal Revelation
Kross candidly admitted that writing the book was an unfamiliar experience for him. He viewed the project not just as storytelling but as a way to help others, sometimes with a tough love approach derived from his wrestling career.
“Let me be completely honest. I didn’t have any idea what the Hell I was writing. These people who sit down and write books and know what they’re doing, they have a talent that I just don’t. Lets just be frank! I had been told to write my life story on paper and publish it as a book and I was like, No, thank you!”
—Karrion Kross
Continuing, he reflected on how life experiences shaped his writing:
“But then, as an adult, you begin to learn, you grow, you develop… You know, you learn things. You go through life. That is part of my life. I like to help people! I do. I prefer to. Now, if they make me hit them in the stomach with a steel pipe every week, that is also a form of help by the way! But, as for the book, I just started writing and it became sort of a memoir. But, there are points that do have sort of a self help vibe, it is so kind of you to put it that way.”
—Karrion Kross
Navigating Industry Doubts and Staying True to His Craft
Kross addressed some of the criticism he encountered, particularly regarding his appearance on Ric Flair’s Last Match show and his status with WWE. While some questioned his place at the event, Kross remained confident and grounded in his commitment to wrestling.
“I got that a lot that night. It is sort of a bittersweet comment. But, I got it a lot everywhere I went including that night. The weird thing is, I hadn’t heard that before I was with WWE. Nobody was coming up to me and saying, You should be there.”
—Karrion Kross
He explained how he consistently works to improve and adapt to changes in the wrestling landscape:
“It is hard to hear that a lot when you’re not (in WWE) but I’ve never lacked confidence in my abilities. I work hard, I study, and I’m always up and after it. I don’t live in a place of complacency. The industry is always changing and I’m always adapting. Lets face it, the industry is always a reflection of the times. It, and entertainment, has always been a reflection of society. There are things that we can go back and look at and thought were funny 15 years ago that would not fly right now. (laughs) You could go back 3 decades where the program was mirroring global conflicts. We’re not doing that anymore. Now, it is just different people and different times. I love it all. I certainly loved taking part in the Ric Flair show. But, I did hear a lot of that. I’m just happy to be here! What can i say?”
—Karrion Kross
Remembering Hulk Hogan and Wrestling Legends
Karrion Kross spoke openly about his reaction to the death of Hulk Hogan, acknowledging the profound impact Hogan had on him and the wrestling world. Hogan, along with iconic figures Randy Savage and the Ultimate Warrior, helped shape Kross’s childhood love of wrestling.
“Man, it is just tragic. It is tragic no matter what side of the fence you’re on. Any way you look at it, it is tragic. I can tell you that when I was a little kid, Hulk Hogan, Macho Man Randy Savage, and the Ultimate Warrior were my favorite wrestlers. And, I’m glad I got to see him when he was still the Immortal One and be that larger than life character when I was a kid.”
—Karrion Kross
Crafting a Persona Built on Detail and Intelligence
Kross emphasized the importance of nuance in his wrestling character, aiming to engage fans who appreciate thoughtful storytelling and layered performances.
“Absolutely! Always will be! There are always different perspectives on how to treat the audience as a performer. I like to treat the audience like they are very intelligent. An intelligent audience, they like call-backs, they like foreshadowing, they like the details! I like to give them that. I like to treat a lot of what I do as a thought piece and give people something to think about.”
—Karrion Kross
The Emotional Challenge of Sharing His Relationship Story
Part of the memoir delves into Kross’s relationship with his wife, Scarlett, which proved difficult yet vital for him to recount honestly. He credits their love for inspiring him to grow as a person.
“Yeah! It was terrible. It was horrifying! But, it is definitely a huge part of my life. I’m not trying to be overly dramatic when I say that I honestly do not know what kind of a person I would be today if I had not met my wife and had the time to get to know her, spend time with her, fall in love with her… I really wanted to become a better person for her! I looked at this person who was perfect for me and I thought, Why don’t you try to become the kind of person this person deserves to end up with.”
—Karrion Kross
Unexpected Support from Kofi Kingston and Locker Room Influence
Many were surprised that Kofi Kingston wrote the foreword for Kross’s memoir, but the two share a close friendship that extends beyond their in-ring personas. Kross highlighted the positive influence Kingston and Xavier Woods have on locker room culture.
“That is an example of how good I am at my job, brother! (laughs) I have made a lot of really good friends over the past 5 years. People have no idea. People know us as the personalities we play on TV. They can’t picture us sitting around discussing philosophical things and having a discussion. There are people who are of a different religious beliefs and I’m very close with them. it doesn’t even matter. It is neither here nor there. Kofi Kingston is a very good friend of mine – So is Xavier Woods. They’ve played such an instrumental part in allowing me to become the best version of myself. We’ve talked about different generations of wrestling. I can tell you that Kofi Kingston and Xavier woods play an important role in shaping the culture and the enviroment, in particular of the locker room. They keep it positive, they keep it lively. They keep it light. That is something I noticed coming in to the locker room. They are such an integral part of it all. I feel like, they would never say this. But, they set the mood and the tone. And, the mood and the tone is always good! That is a reflection of who they are. They’re veterans, of course. But, as men, they are very good people.”
—Karrion Kross
Reflecting on the Red Mask Controversy and Audience Connection
Kross discussed the controversial red mask look introduced when he transitioned from WWE’s NXT to RAW. He firmly stated it was not his creative choice and stressed the importance of maintaining genuine communication with fans to preserve a trusted relationship.
“I never really thought that it could or would kill anything because it was so glaringly obvious that it was not my idea. I had a body of work independent of WWE and it was clear from that body of work that I would not have come up with such a creative misstep. I’ll never be able to allow myself to make such a misstep like that because I never let the fan in me die. Yes, there is a professional. But, I feel like I know what the audience wants to see. That isn’t coming from a pretentious place like, I know what they want!”
—Karrion Kross
He explained how listening to fans has helped guide his career choices:
“It is coming from a place of, I actually talk the audience. When I talk to fans, I ask them what they like and what they don’t like. If they say they like me, I ask them why. Some people don’t approach things like that. That’s OK! That is my process. That is why I’ve always been able to preserve a connection with the audience before WWE and while I’ve been in WWE. There have been periods of time where people have not liked my work. To be frank, there are times I’ve not liked it either! But, I’ve always tried to make a course correction. I’ve always tried to do the best with what I’m given. Right now, I have to say, I feel like the temperature is right. I feel like people are liking what I’m doing and I’m leaning into that. I’m leaning into that and doing it instead of waiting to be told I can do it.”
—Karrion Kross
Comparisons to Wrestling Memoir Legends Mick Foley and Chris Jericho
Kross expressed immense gratitude and humility about comparisons between his memoir and those of renowned wrestlers Mick Foley and Chris Jericho, whose books have become favorites among fans for their blend of humor and honesty.
“That is amazing. That is awesome. It is very humbling. But, that should be number one for me. But, it isn’t. What is number one is that people are helped by the book or are entertained by it or get something from it. That maybe they look at something more or differently than they did before. That is what I want. But, being compared to those two guys? That is unbelievable. It is amazing. I really don’t even know what to say to that.”
—Karrion Kross
Kross’s Creative Expression Beyond Wrestling
Apart from wrestling, Kross remains active in social media, creating content that resonates with fans throughout the week. He also shared memories of his friendship with Kevin Sullivan, whose wisdom and support influenced him during his independent wrestling days.
“I am always interested in creating new content on my social media. I’m a creative person. But, I think it is important to bridge from Monday to Monday. If people are working 9 to 5 jobs or perhaps even multiple jobs, that is a long time People have busy lives. The way they feel on Monday about what they watched, that feeling might not take them through to next Monday. I enjoy creating things to prime them to get them to next Monday. The footage of Kevin Sullivan, I did independently of WWE. I had shot that a while before I released it. I had met Kevin Sullivan on the independents and he was always very good to me. I used to talk shop with him often over the phone. He would always say, What the Hell are they doing with you? Don’t they see what they’ve got?”
—Karrion Kross
“Kevin! Go get a writers job!”
—Karrion Kross
The Dream of Having Jesse Ventura Commentate His Match
Kross expressed his admiration for wrestling commentator Jesse Ventura and joked about how meaningful it would be to have Ventura call one of his matches.
“(Doing a Jesse Ventura impression) It would be the most important thing to happen in my entire career!”
—Karrion Kross
He added,
“I have suggested it. Everyone asks me. Literally, everyone asks me every time Saturday Night’s Main Event comes around. Even his son has asked me!
When are you going to be on Saturday Night’s Main Event. My father would like to commentate on your match.”
Everyone asks. But, so far, it hasn’t happened. They jsut act like it never happened.”
—Karrion Kross
What Karrion Kross Wants Readers to Take Away
Ultimately, Kross hopes his book conveys how passionate and dedicated he is to wrestling and entertaining fans, emphasizing that this career is his lifelong dream.
“I hope they take away the truth that this is what I’ve always wanted to do. This is my dream job and I’m happy to have it. This is all I’ve ever wanted to do is entertain them, even some of them before they were born (laughs) because I’m older than them. But, this is all I’ve ever wanted to do. And, I do not take this for granted.”
—Karrion Kross
The Future of Karrion Kross with WWE Remains Uncertain
When asked if he had re-signed with WWE, Kross kept the answer light and elusive.
“You know I can’t answer that! (laughs)”
—Karrion Kross
Significance and Anticipated Impact of ‘Life Is Fighting’
Karrion Kross’s memoir represents a rare glimpse into the life of a modern wrestling star striving to balance the complexities of fame, creativity, and personal growth. Its forthcoming release is likely to resonate strongly with wrestling fans who appreciate honest storytelling and a multi-dimensional presentation of a wrestler’s path. Beyond entertainment, the book aims to offer encouragement and insight, reflecting Kross’s own journey through challenges and triumphs.
Life Is Fighting arrives at a moment when the wrestling world is reflecting on its legends and looking forward to fresh narratives. This memoir not only honors the legacy of icons like Hulk Hogan but also charts Kross’s distinct identity and contributions within the industry’s evolving culture.
