Ex-WWE Champion Shockingly Claims Fans Forced Company To Use Him
Ex-NXT Champion Karrion Kross had an underwhelming run in WWE for the most part of his career.
Many fans and critics have shared their opinions stating that WWE tried to bury Kross by limiting his television exposure and sidelining him despite his potential.
After returning to the promotion in 2022, Kross initially showed promise with high-profile rivalries against top stars like Drew McIntyre and Rey Mysterio. However, his momentum was abruptly cut short as the company relegated him largely to backstage segments and diminished his in-ring role.
There was a noticeable lack of creative direction for his character, and he missed out on key opportunities like the Money in the Bank qualifier and Royal Rumble. This stalled push frustrated Kross and his supporters, fueling the narrative that WWE intentionally suppressed Kross’ rise.
Karrion Kross Credits His Fans For Supporting Him in WWE
In an interview with Denise Salcedo, Karrion Kross revealed that his increased presence on television was largely due to fan demand. He explained that when his push started fading, he proactively engaged with social media, creating character-driven content to maintain his relevance. Kross said he made efforts to amplify his backstage persona as much as possible to give fans something to invest in.
Ultimately, it was the audience’s enthusiasm and calls for more of him that compelled the Stamford-based company to elevate his role on the show, rather than the promotion independently deciding to promote him. Scarlett supported this, adding that fans forced the company’s hand by rallying behind Kross, which helped him stay in prominent storylines.
“I took it back. I tried to, you know, get involved on social media, start creating character pieces and fun stuff for people to watch. I tried to make the little things I had backstage me as much as possible. And the audience actually forced their hand to use me. It was really, honestly, it was the audience that really, actually called for me to be a bigger part of the show. So, that much I can tell you.” (12:51 – 13:11)
Just as Karrion Kross was gaining momentum with a gradually growing role, WWE abruptly released him upon the expiration of his contract on August 10, 2025. Despite his efforts and the persuasive support from fans, the Stamford-based promotion chose not to renew his contract at a time when his profile was starting to rise again. Kross was removed from mainstream programming shortly after a losing effort at SummerSlam 2025 against Sami Zayn.
The timing of the release shocked many fans, who believed the Stamford-based company was finally utilizing his unique character effectively. The sudden release ended what many saw as a promising resurgence, leaving Kross and Scarlett free agents in wrestling.
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