Karrion Kross is currently experiencing the most enjoyment he’s ever had in his professional wrestling career, highlighted through his ongoing character development. In a recent interview with WrestleZone promoting his forthcoming book Life Is Fighting, Kross shared that although he never planned to write a book, encouragement from peers and fans inspired him to share his story.
He acknowledged that many people see wrestlers as invincible figures, much like firefighters, paramedics, and police officers who perform extraordinary jobs despite their imperfections. Kross wants to reveal his own flaws to connect with audiences on a genuine level, encouraging others to pursue their goals despite imperfections.
“I was just encouraged by people who thought that I had stories,”
Kross said.
“I felt really compelled by the idea of not only potentially entertaining people but helping people, and a lot of people. It is nice for people to think that you are a superhero and that you are invincible. But no one’s really like that. Firefighters, paramedics, police officers, people in the service; they are all just like us. None of them are perfect. But they have extraordinary jobs. Not that I’m comparing pro wrestling to those jobs, but in the way that people see other people doing extraordinary things. We are seen in that light.”
“And I think sometimes that is actually off-putting to people who want to do these things because they go, ‘Well, I’m just me. I can’t actually accomplish any of these things that those people are doing.’ No. You can. You totally can,”
Kross said.
“And I’m going to actually tell you how f*cked up I am, so we can find a common ground. And you can go after these things that you want to do. Because I was far from perfect. And I still am.”
The Complexity Behind Karrion Kross’s Villainous Persona
For months, Karrion Kross has positioned himself as an antagonist in WWE, notably engaging in a heated rivalry with Sami Zayn, with their next match set for SummerSlam. Despite his role as a traditional villain, Kross’s character has been met with growing fan support, creating a paradox where a “heel” is cheered by the audience. Former WWE Superstar Baron Corbin has noted that this unusual reaction might create challenges in the long term.
While outside the ring Kevin Kesar views the character as a bad guy, Kross himself portrays a more nuanced version of villainy. He describes his character as someone who sees himself as an awful person in a flawed world, rejecting the idea of innocence and criticizing those who pretend otherwise. This perspective drives him to expose what he perceives as false facades in others, which resonates with many fans who appreciate the authenticity of his portrayal.
“I definitely see myself as a bad guy. [laughs] Yes. Karrion Kross would not see himself as a bad guy in the same way [X-Men’s] Magneto does not see himself as a bad guy. I think the best villains don’t see themselves necessarily as bad people. But Karrion Kross’ worldview is that he is an awful person living in an awful world. And he resents the idea of people pretending that they are not awful for career and life advancement. He goes out of his way to try and expose those people to the WWE Universe. He doesn’t see anyone as a good person, he doesn’t believe in innocence.”
Audience Reactions and the Possibility of a Heroic Turn
The character evolution of Karrion Kross has led to unexpected cheers from the crowd, despite his antagonistic actions. Kross recognizes that his character’s cynical outlook has become an appealing element for fans, making the character entertaining and compelling. Although no official change to a heroic or “babyface” role has been announced, Kross acknowledges that wrestling fans often start cheering for villains who persist in their ways, which complicates traditional storytelling.
“I think that has become sort of an endearing character perspective for people to watch; they find it entertaining. I think that the character is being cheered because what he is doing is entertaining,”
Kross explained.
“As far as him being a baby face, there is not an official trigger that has been pulled on that yet. But I’ve seen this happen for over 30 years watching wrestling where the audience begins to cheer for the bad guy and the bad guy will continue to do bad things and the audience will continue to cheer. And it’s not like I’m baiting them. They are enjoying what they are seeing. I’m having fun. This is the most fun I’ve had probably ever. I think this is the most fun I’ve had in my entire career thus far. I’m really, really enjoying all of this,”
Karrion Kross said.
Karrion Kross Expresses Gratitude to Fans and Shares Future Plans
Looking ahead, Karrion Kross has expressed his desire to collaborate with various WWE talents and is preparing for a global tour to promote his book. Above all, he emphasizes appreciation for the support from fans new and old, stressing the importance of maintaining a strong connection with the WWE Universe and valuing their time and attention.
“Thanks to you and thank everybody who has been with me since the beginning of my career. Thank the people that are new fans of mine,”
Kross said,
“that are able to see that I am doing everything that I possibly can to make, and create, preserve a connection between us and what they are watching. And I don’t take anyone’s time or attention for granted.”
Life Is Fighting is scheduled for release on August 5, available through physical and digital retailers including Amazon, allowing fans to delve deeper into Kross’s personal journey and mindset.
