Former WWE writer Vince Russo recently shared new information regarding a conversation he had with Karrion Kross, whose WWE contract expired following SummerSlam. The star has publicly confirmed that WWE did not renew his contract, bringing his departure into sharp focus. Kross disclosed during the Ariel Helwani podcast that WWE gave him just 24 hours to accept a new contract offer, but when he requested further details, the offer was withdrawn.
Vince Russo’s perspective on Kross’ public statements
On his podcast “Writing with Russo,” Vince Russo explained that Karrion Kross appeared to be using media interviews to clarify that his exit from WWE was real and not part of any scripted wrestling storyline. Russo believes Kross aimed to send a message to other wrestling promotions, including AEW, that he was officially free from WWE obligations. During Russo’s conversation with Kross, he avoided directly asking if the situation was a storyline, to prevent putting Kross in an uncomfortable position.
“I believe part of the Ariel Helwani interview was for Kross to make clear this is not a work. To let AEW know this is not a work. I was on the fence like you, even before I heard from the horse. I’m gonna be honest with you. I didn’t try to get an answer from the horse because if he was working, I didn’t want to put him in a difficult situation where, ‘Ah, sh*t, I gotta work Vince now.’ I didn’t want to put him in that position.”
—Vince Russo, Former WWE Writer
Kross begins new chapter with independent wrestling events
Following his WWE exit, Karrion Kross and his partner Scarlett Bordeaux have started accepting bookings on the independent wrestling scene. Notably, Kross is scheduled to appear at a WrestlePro event on Sunday, September 21. This move further confirms his departure from WWE and signals an effort to maintain his presence in the wrestling world outside of the company.
Possible implications of Kross’ exit on WWE relations
With significant fan support rallying behind Karrion Kross, there is speculation about whether WWE might reevaluate its decision regarding his contract. His vocal and public exit, combined with his immediate jump to independent promotions, adds tension to his status with WWE and raises questions about potential future developments in his career.
