By now, we're sure you're all aware of the circumstances surrounding Karrion Kross' WWE release. A groundswell of fan support for the former NXT Champion led to speculation that the whole thing was a "work," but it's since become clear that the company didn't value him or Scarlett.
Kross, now Killer Kross, is back on the independents and in a new documentary uploaded to YouTube, My Life After WWE, he admitted that his WWE departure was indeed "one big work" ...at his expense!
"Is this all a big work? Is that what you’re asking me? Is this a work? Is this a big, elaborate, intricate work? Where I come back and I say, 'Surprise!'" Kross started. "The answer to that question is – in a sense, yes. This was all one big work."
"The worst part about it, though, is that it’s not the work everybody thought it was. Because I was the one getting worked," he revealed.
While Kross didn't elaborate any further, he's likely referring to the way WWE handled his exit. They offered him a deal, which was rescinded when he pushed back on how they'd reached that number and his strong merchandise sales.
Scarlett, meanwhile, has suggested that WWE handled her contract negotiations in a misogynistic manner and seemed to base her worth primarily on her husband's.
Kross did, however, say that WWE told him his newly released book had no impact on his value to them as a performer. "When you tell that kid that his story doesn’t matter and you’re taking money from him, and you’re telling him that subject is irrelevant to the conversation, there’s no deal to be made, there’s nothing to agree to."
"So they said they would rescind their offer in 24 hours," he recalled. "My story, my life story, is not irrelevant."
Denying that he felt like a "puppet" while in WWE, Kross said that even those working at the "highest level" have to submit to the company's creative whims. "When you’re getting involved at the highest level that you’re definitely not gonna be writing the show. You’re definitely not gonna be booking the matches."
"You’ll have very little say over what’s going on, and when you do have any sort of say over what you’re doing and what’s going on, it’s quite a privilege. It’s something to be earned," he continued. "Trust is a very big thing, loyalty’s a very big thing. More on that later."
Kross added, "I always made sure that I had at least one hand on the wheel, whether they realised it or not. I think to some degree everyone does that." Explaining that it wasn't done "in a manipulative way," he said it was a means of defending himself because "I’ve been in the situation where I’ve let my hands off the wheel and somebody drove the car off a cliff. So we’re not doing that again."
So, no more red gladiator outfits! You can hear more from Kross in the player below.