Killer Kross says many WWE talents panic when they leave the company, describing the financial and professional shock of losing a WWE contract. Speaking with The Stunner, Kross was candid about the reaction he has observed from performers when their time with WWE comes to an end.
“Most people, they have like a panic attack when they leave WWE,” Kross said. “I’ll be real with you. I’ll be straight with you. People freak out. It’s the most money a lot of pro wrestlers have ever seen in their lives.”
Kross also addressed the creative trade-offs that come with working for a major organization like WWE, noting that performers often have to subordinate their passion for the craft to the demands of the business. “Something can happen when you work for any major organization where if the business is with somebody else, you’ve got to take a backseat, and so does your love for this,” Kross said. “You have to be a professional before you’re an artist.”
Kross contrasted that environment with what he has experienced back on the independent circuit since leaving WWE. “Out here on the independents, that’s not the case,” Kross said. “The best professional wrestling you will see will come from the heart. They know what they’re getting when they walk through the doors. It’s 100% pro wrestling.”
Kross and Scarlett exited WWE last year after their contracts expired without a new deal being negotiated. Both have since returned to the independent scene in the United States. Kross has won multiple championships since his return to the independents and has spoken positively about the freedom that comes with working outside a major promotion.
Kross previously had two separate stints in WWE, first in NXT, where he held the NXT Championship, and a short run on the main roster, and then on the main roster before his departure.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit The Stunner with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
