Karrion Kross has openly discussed the recent WWE contract offer made exclusively to him, which came with unclear terms and a strict 24-hour deadline. The offer notably excluded his wife, Scarlett Bordeaux, leaving her without a contract proposal while Kross was pressured to sign swiftly. This situation unfolded amid rising frustrations within WWE, highlighting tensions around contract negotiations and the handling of talent couples.
In a detailed conversation on The Ariel Helwani Show, the former WWE Superstar explained how WWE withheld information from him regarding contract specifics and assured him Scarlett would be approached only after his deal was finalized. Kross said,
Nothing. She had nothing. There was no offer to her. I was told at one point, cuz I did inquire, of course. After we deal with you, we’ll deal with her.
Karrion Kross expressed confusion and disappointment over WWE’s approach, stating he did not understand why deals could not have been processed jointly as they had been before. When asked if Scarlett would be brought back after his renewal, he admitted,
I don’t know. But I just… I don’t see why we just could not have done things the way we did them before, you know, where we do the deals together.
This contract ordeal, marked by secrecy and pressure, culminated in Kross declining to sign under the given conditions, ultimately leading to his release from WWE.
Inside the Backstage Fallout and the Role of the Sam Roberts Podcast
Karrion Kross’s relationship with WWE began to unravel following his outspoken appearance on the Sam Roberts Podcast, where he aired frustrations about limited opportunities in the company. However, Kross clarified that much of his critique was staged to protect fan excitement around a potential feud with AJ Styles.
He compared the situation to maintaining suspense in a film, explaining,
So, I kept that protected because I was under the impression at the time from things I was told that AJ and I might be working a little bit, and there was some options as to different things we can do. So, you do want to let everyone behind the curtain while they’re still watching the movie.
Kross illustrated the need to preserve the illusion by adding,
Imagine watching Terminator 2, and in the middle of the movie, we’re going to take a little intermission, and this is CGI, and they’ve got a robot on the strings. I didn’t want to do that. So I kept it protected like I would with anything so people can remain immersed in the programming.
Despite intentions to keep the segment a scripted moment, Kross revealed that internal communications within WWE were inconsistent, causing confusion among staff about the nature of his remarks. He shared,
I let everybody know, let’s make sure this is somewhat protected from the audience, but let everyone know internally that this is a work, because not every department is in lockstep communication with one another. So, I told everybody that. Sure enough, not everybody knew that it was a work.
This disconnect contributed to misunderstandings that portrayed Kross’s interview as genuine discontent, which WWE executives interpreted as resentment rather than performance.
Karrion Kross’s Current Status and Future Prospects Outside WWE
Following his release, Karrion Kross is approaching his wrestling career cautiously, choosing not to rush into signing with any promotion unless the terms suit him. He expressed appreciation for his fans’ ongoing support but remains firm in waiting for the right opportunity. On committing to new deals, he said,
commit into anything that is not right for me right now.
Though Kross labeled his departure a setback and source of frustration, he still considers WWE his professional home. When asked about interest from other wrestling companies, he declined to reveal specifics but acknowledged that All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has not reached out, stating,
You can ask, but I won’t tell you, brother.
He described the confusion surrounding his release as a barrier in negotiations with other promoters, noting many believe his situation is a staged storyline similar to past events involving wrestlers like Seth Rollins. Kross commented,
Everyone’s thinking I’m just going to pop up under some other company that’s in the WWE umbrella. They’re hoping I do because this seems so nonsensical to people. People are following the course of events that have happened to get to here, and they’re going, ‘How did this happen? This must not be real because this makes no sense.’ And believe me, I also think that this makes no sense either.
This uncertainty complicates the trajectory of Karrion Kross’s career, as well as Scarlett Bordeaux’s status, which remains unclear since WWE ended their contracts. Their situation highlights the complex dynamics in wrestling where professional and personal lives are often intertwined and affected by corporate decisions.
What This Means for WWE and Future Talent Agreements
Karrion Kross’s departure following a contract ultimatum that ignored Scarlett Bordeaux raises questions about WWE’s evolving talent relations and contract strategies. The couple’s split from the company after SummerSlam marks a departure from previous practices where joint agreements were handled with more transparency and mutual consideration.
This episode may influence how WWE negotiates with talent involving family members or partners in the future and reflects growing industry challenges in balancing creative control, contractual fairness, and personal relationships. Fans and industry observers now await to see how both WWE and Karrion Kross will proceed, especially considering the speculation surrounding broader roster changes and talent opportunities at rival wrestling promotions.
