In a revealing interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, the recently departed WWE duo of Karrion Kross and Scarlett detailed the “bizarre” and “shocking” contract negotiations that led to their exit from the company. They described a process where they felt their value was dismissed and Scarlett was used as leverage in a manner she described as “misogynistic.”
Scarlett explained that during the talks, her own contract status was explicitly tied to whether Kross signed his deal. “They said, ‘We’ll get to her once we’re done with you,’ which I took as them using me as leverage against him,” she stated. “It felt like a massive red flag, and I did feel like it did come off a bit misogynistic, because originally I was hired before you, and the idea that I have no value without him… that came off as very misogynistic to me.”
Kross confirmed this was not the first time the company had used this tactic, referencing his initial main roster call-up that left Scarlett in NXT. “When I signed to go from NXT to Raw, somebody said the exact same thing to me over the phone,” he recalled. “I go up to Raw… and she’s at home. So I was like, ‘Well, I’m not gonna do that again. We already saw exactly what happened with that.’”
The negotiations grew more frustrating for Kross when the talent relations representative allegedly dismissed his tangible contributions to the company, such as strong merchandise numbers and the sales of his autobiography. “Forbes wrote an article that we were the top seller in the company for the merchandise. He didn’t want to look at any of that. He’s telling me that’s irrelevant to the conversation in determining my value,” Kross said. “My life story is about a kid in the audience of their shows growing up… and now he’s telling me that’s irrelevant? Anybody with any sort of dignity or self-respect is not going to say, ‘You know what, that sounds like a really good deal.’”
Scarlett summarized the experience as feeling devalued. “It’s this feeling that no matter how much hard work you put in… it doesn’t matter,” she said. “At the end of the day, you’re only this number that they choose for you… there’s nothing you can do to improve your situation.”
Karrion Kross and Scarlett’s WWE contracts expired in September 2025. The couple has since returned to the independent circuit, appearing for various promotions across the country.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Insight with Chris Van Vliet with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
