Tag: karrion kross

Scarlett says she went ‘numb’ after WWE WrestleMania 40 match was taken away

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

Scarlett Bordeaux was set to compete at WrestleMania 40 alongside her husband, Karrion Kross (real name Kevin Kesar) but her involvement was omitted without reason. She and Kross detailed the backstage circumstances and uncertainty they experienced at the time. 

In an interview with Denise Salcedo, Bordeaux revisited the scrapped plans for her participation in the Philadelphia Street Fight at WrestleMania 40. B-Fab and Bordeaux were initially slated to participate in the tag team match featuring The Pride vs. The Final Testament. She recalled discussing her fear with Kross on getting too excited about the opportunity that might be taken away, which is what ultimately happened. 

“B-Fab and I were actually supposed to be part of that WrestleMania match. We were supposed to actually wrestle, not just manage. We still got to do some really cool stuff. I got to go through a table at Mania, which is great. But yeah, we were supposed to be part of that match originally. We were excited and I remember this fear and I was crying about it that night when we found out that we’re supposed to be in the match. I was crying, telling Kevin ‘What if I get really excited about this and they take it away? I’m really, really afraid to be excited about this right now’. And they did. And I just remember, just kind of going numb. I’m like, just accept it. You can only spend so much time fighting and being angry. But maybe I should have been fighting more.” 

Bordeaux applauded Chelsea Green’s determination to fight for her rights within WWE and wished she could have done the same. Despite this, she remains grateful for her time in WWE and is content with her current wrestling contributions beyond the company. 

“I do give credit to Chelsea Green. She said every single thing she’s done, she’s fought for it. I give her so much credit because maybe I could have fought more. Maybe. But I’m so grateful for the time I’ve had there. The fact that I am healthy and we are performing and traveling everywhere. Like I feel like there is something I did right. The fact that I am still doing this and happy doing it, but looking back on it, it’s hard to say if I would change anything. It’s hard.”

Bordeaux said the decision to call off their involvement was last-minute and Kross, who was off-screen, said there was no clear explanation as to why it happened. 

Bordeaux: “Just last minute decision. Kevin’s in the kitchen right now. Do you remember what that decision was? Why they squashed that?”

Kross: “They didn’t tell us why.”

Bordeaux: “I just remember B-Fab was like, ‘Oh, I got really cool gear made. This is a bummer, but I’m glad we get to do something.’”

Kross: “Bobby (Lashley) and I both fought to have you both involved”

Bordeaux: “Yeah, Kross and Bobby both fought for me and B-Fab to be part of it. It made sense. And plus it was a No DQ, so why the hell wouldn’t we be?”

Kross: “Yeah, we forced you guys. Well, we all collectively forced moments for you guys to have, which was at the very least we were able to do that.”

Kross competed in his last WWE match at SummerSlam 2025 against Sami Zayn. His contract expired in August. In the negotiations for a new deal, Kross revealed that he was offered a contract extension but not Bordeaux which led to their decision to part ways with the company.

Killer Kross calls life after WWE an ‘invaluable experience’

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Karrion Kross and his wife Scarlett Bordeaux left WWE last year in August, 2025, and have now opened up on their post-WWE careers.

Recently speaking to TV Insider, Kross was asked about his post-WWE career and their current perspective.

“How do I say this without sounding passive aggressive? I’ll tell you right now, we are the least tribal people you’ll ever meet. We’re not even salty about where things are at or where we are right now. We are very live and let live. We are very much about making the best of what you’ve got. We always do that. We’re grateful where we are at,” Kross said.

“This whole experience of being independent in the world and market we’re in, the information we’re acquiring all over the country and world has been invaluable. This is not experience or information we could have acquired without being independent. We’ve learned a lot about different markets, in wrestling and entertainment, that we would not have been able to learn had we been inside the machine. Believe me when I tell you, and I think Scarlett will tell you the same, we’re very happy where we are at. I can tell you maybe we would not have been if the audience did not come with us.”

He further opened up in detail about the independent circuit and the amount of love they receive from the fans.

“I understand some people with how they perceive the world and their reality of what is going on through their newsfeed. If we’re not being shoved down their throats in their feed, maybe they think we’ve disappeared. But let me tell you, we’re in two or three major cities every weekend and thousands of people come to see us, whether it’s comic cons or conventions, independent wrestling shows,” Kross continued.

“The amount of love and support we are getting from the wrestling audience or people who just enjoy entertainment stuff has been overwhelming. Truthfully, I thought it may have simmered back a little bit a few months ago. It hasn’t. It is actually getting bigger and growing.”

In the same interview, Kross and Bordeaux also opened up about being “not desperate for a contract” after their WWE exits last year.

Tony Khan addresses potential AEW interest in Killer Kross & Scarlett

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: WWE

While AEW head Tony Khan has been open to signing free agents in the past, he has not spoken to one prominent figure: Killer Kross.

Khan was asked on Tuesday by Ariel Helwani if he has spoken to the free agent who parted ways with WWE in August along with wife, Scarlett Bordeaux.

“I have not spoken to him in many, many years,” Khan said, later adding that it would be “interesting at some point to talk to him again.”

Khan said there was “a great chance to reconnect” on the night Kross teamed with Darby Allin at a New York City indie show in early-October as he was in town with Allin for Comic Con. However, the schedule that night didn’t allow for it. Khan said Allin told him he had a great experience in the ring with Kross.

In October, Kross and Bordeaux told Chris Van Vliet that them joining AEW at that point wouldn’t be fair to Khan given the timing of their exit.

In a May 2022 report from Fightful, Kross discussed a one-off match with Khan as part of an AEW angle between MJF and Wardlow. However, they couldn’t come to terms on a deal as Bordeaux wasn’t going to be involved and Kross “was concerned that his introduction to the AEW audience would mimic that of his WWE debut against Jeff Hardy as opposed to the successful NXT formula that helped lead him to two NXT Championships.”

Kross and Bordeaux acknowledged the meeting in the Van Vliet interview with the latter saying “…but the story wasn’t — it didn’t really make sense for (Kross) at the time.”

Scarlett: High ticket prices were ‘topic of discussion’ among WWE locker room

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rising ticket prices were a topic of discussion in the WWE locker room, according to former WWE talent Scarlett Bordeaux.

Bordeaux and her husband Killer Kross appeared on The Coach and Bro Show this week, discussing their departures from WWE. During the interview, Jonathan Coachman asked if ticket prices were something that WWE wrestlers talked about backstage as prices continued to climb over the last 6-8 months.

“Constantly,” Bordeaux responded. “We noticed it also with the comp tickets. We used to have no issues in different cities if we wanted to get comp tickets for friends and family. There were tickets that we were told were going to be approved and then last minute — we were told that the comp tickets were available, and day of there’s no tickets for people. But they’re deciding to sell them instead. So, like, little things like that we would notice.

“We noticed the ticket prices going higher, the fans would tell us. But it was definitely a topic of discussion amongst the locker room.”

Kross backed up Bordeaux, saying the prices were something that everyone noticed.

It doesn’t appear that ticket prices will be going down any time soon, with Nick Khan saying this week that WWE remains “bullish” on the increases and believes they are appropriate for the marketplace.

Kross and Bordeaux departed WWE this August when their contracts expired and new deals were not reached. There was initially speculation that the situation was a work being done by WWE to continue building fan support for Kross, but it’s now been three months since his departure with no signs of a return.

Bordeaux said she and Kross were paid very well in WWE, but they’re making more outside of the company so far. They’ve been active on the indie/convention scene and are also set to appear for MLW.

“This sounds crazy and probably not very believable, but it’s something I feel like the people in WWE right now who might be stressed out, ‘Am I going to get released?’ They might want to hear this — we are making more than we were making there,” Bordeaux said. “And we were getting paid very well, but we are making more now weekly on the shows we’re doing than we were at WWE.

“And WWE pays great, but it can be done if you hustle.”

Kross said there are a lot of opportunities out there for unsigned wrestlers. Along with indie shows and convention appearances, money can be made through avenues like social media and merchandise.

Killer Kross releases new documentary, opens up on WWE contract negotiations falling apart

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Killer Kross’ new documentary is out now.

On Monday, the former WWE star released his third documentary, the second after word came out that his contract was not being renewed by WWE. Titled ‘My Life after WWE’, Kross opens up about his career after leaving the company in August, featuring matches from Defy and elsewhere on the independent scene as well as interactions with fans and other wrestlers who praised him for his character work. You can watch the documentary in full below.

During one part of the documentary, Kross compares his career in WWE to that of the story of Moby Dick. He uses metaphors and characters in the novel to describe his final negotiations with the company prior to his contract expiring in August. Kross said one of things that kept him from signing was the company not considering his book, which WWE got a cut of, to be important enough in the negotiations.

“When you tell that kid his story doesn’t matter and you’re taking money from him and you’re telling him that the 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.”

Kross said he wanted to work things out, but they went ahead and rescinded the offer regardless.

“Sometimes when somebody makes you an offer and there’s red flags over it, you should pay attention to that,” he said.

He recalled that in 2021 when they wanted to sign him to be part of the main roster, he asked about his “siren,” aka Scarlett. He said WWE told him to sign the contract and they’d get to Scarlett. However, she was not called up and both were released by the end of the year, with WWE at the time saying the layoffs were due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Ahab signed the contract and he went out to sea, they never signed the siren, they kept her sitting at home and they turned Ahab into a f****** a******. So Ahab wasn’t going to fall for that again. Because he’s f****** read the book.”

“Money is f****** worthless when it’s not attached to principles,” he added. “Ahab thought I’d rather make less money and preserve my principles than to agree that nothing I have done over the last three years means anything and nothing I will do for the next three or five will mean anything either. My story, my life story, is not irrelevant.”

Since his release in August, Kross has found steady work on the independent scene. He will be making his return to MLW next month.

Killer Kross & Scarlett: It ‘wouldn’t be fair to Tony’ for us to join AEW right now

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux feel like it wouldn’t be fair to Tony Khan for them to join AEW while still holding out hope that a WWE return could happen someday.

Appearing on a new episode of Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Kross and Scarlett would not confirm if they have had talks with AEW since their WWE departures. But the couple did reveal that there were conversations with AEW in 2022 between their first and second WWE stints.

  • Kross: I don’t think we should say who we do or don’t talk to.
  • Scarlett: We have friends everywhere. That’s the thing, we have friends everywhere.
  • Kross: When did we kind of sort of meet? That was in 2021?
  • Scarlett: It was around April 2022. Right before we came back, there was a conversation about you coming in, but the story wasn’t — it didn’t really make sense for you at the time.
  • Kross: I wanted to do something bigger for Tony at the time. So we just said, ‘Let’s stay in touch’ and had planned to do something together.

Kross and Scarlett departed WWE this August when their contracts with the company expired. While there were questions as to whether the situation was actually legitimate or just a work, there have been no signs of a WWE return to this point.

The duo told Van Vliet that everything they’ve been doing on the indies and convention circuit has been awesome. But they have amazing memories at WWE and still remember how great it is when you’re there and things are going well. Kross and Scarlett still have hope that they can experience that feeling in WWE again, though they do not know if the door is actually open for a return.

  • Scarlett: The thing about going somewhere else, it’s almost like jumping from one long-term relationship into another. When you’re still hoping that that connection is still there with the previous company, that they’re going to do the right thing, that they’re going to call. If we ever go to AEW, that’s going to be where we end up. That is — we are going to be flying the AEW flag. That is going to be our home forever. Whatever our next company is, that’s it.
  • Kross: Whatever the company is. Yeah.
  • Scarlett: We will fight for that company ’till the end.
  • Kross: Yeah, that is a major commitment. We’re both very, very big on commitment.
  • Scarlett: And it wouldn’t be fair to Tony for us, right now, we’re still talking about WWE the way we are, to go over there and be like, ‘Oh, you know, we’re just here, just to go back to WWE.’ We wouldn’t want to do that to him. So if we go there, we’re like, ‘No, we’re going to make this company the absolute best it’s ever going to be.’ And we’ll do that wherever we go.
  • Kross: Of course.

Money is not the primary focus for Kross and Scarlett. If the opportunity for a WWE return does present itself, Kross said there will need to be creative principles behind the offer, along with room for growth and the ability to work at the highest level.

It was announced over the weekend that, along with the work he’s doing on the indies, Kross will be returning to MLW in November.

Killer Kross: ‘I plan to be back on TV somewhere, at some time, some place’

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Killer Kross plans to be back on television at some point, whether it’s for WWE or another promotion.

The former Karrion Kross announced his WWE departure last month amid ongoing speculation over whether the situation is actually legitimate. Since then, he’s appeared for GCW and been announced for a slate of indie dates. WrestlePro, Defy Wrestling, and House of Glory are among the promotions he’ll be competing for.

But Kross believes he’ll be back on TV in the future. He recently spoke to the Wrestling Classic about how much the support of the “#WeWantKross” fan movement means to him. Kross mentioned that he wants to come back to TV in a “really crazy way” when he returns, wherever and whenever that may be.

“Man, it almost prompts me to cry when they come to me crying,” Kross said about the fan support. “I’m like, ‘You’re killing my gimmick, brother!’ [laughs]. It’s very, very touching. Between the documentary, between my life story and the book. And then them seeing my career play out on TV and where we’re at right now, this is just a very special, unique time in my life.

“I plan to do more. I plan to be back on TV somewhere, at some time, some place. But in a really crazy way. It won’t go down like this, but if this was literally the end and I never did anything ever again — Oh my god, man. What a ride. It has been so awesome to be accepted like this from people all over the world. For me, it’s not just wrestling. I feel like people know what’s going on in my life. They’re not just talking to Karrion Kross or Killer Kross, they’re talking to Kevin. And I never thought I’d be in a place where I was comfortable enough to allow that in, but I am. And, like, it feels special. It feels really special.”

Kross and his wife Scarlett Bordeaux last appeared for WWE at SummerSlam on August 2 prior to the expiration of their contracts. In his interview with the Wrestling Classic, Kross was asked if he views himself and Scarlett as a package deal in wrestling at all times going forward.

“Not necessarily,” he responded. “Her and I, as long as the deal is fair and with respect and can be discussed with logic and rational communication, we’re open to working in and out of whatever is being offered.”

Nick Gage, Karrion Kross, Scarlett return at GCW Homecoming

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two big returns took place at GCW Homecoming.

In a match between Shotzi Blackheart and Matt Cardona, Nick Gage made his return to GCW after being gone for over a year. Originally, Tommy Invincible had come out dressed as Gage and came out to his music wearing Gage’s attire. But he was then laid out by the real deal, handing Shotzi a pizza slicer as she carved up Cardona’s forehead.

Back at GCW’s Homecoming event last year, owner Brett Lauderdale announced that Gage would not be able to attend the show and was unsure when he would be back in the ring. In the time since, Gage has wrestled for other independent shows but not in GCW.

The match also saw Karrion Kross and Scarlett make their GCW returns, futher helping Shotzi. Multiple druids had attempted to assist Cardona, but the final two ended up being the former WWE stars, with Scarlett low blowing Cardona. Kross put Cardona through a door, allowing Shotzi to hit a senton for the win.

Kross and Scarlett left WWE on August 10 after their contracts expired, but continue to make headlines due to the way they made their exit, with some speculating it could be a WWE storyline.

Killer Kross announced for new indie booking

Posted on by Joseph Currier

The former Karrion Kross has been announced for a new indie booking.

After already lining up appearances for WrestlePro and Defy, it’s now been revealed that Killer Kross will be in action for House of Glory in New York City on October 10. An opponent for his match has not been announced yet.

“The most dangerous free agent in wrestling has arrived,” House of Glory wrote. “KILLER KROSS makes his long-awaited HOG debut Friday, October 10th!”

NYC Arena in Queens is hosting the show, which will be broadcast on TrillerTV+.

Both of Kross’ other bookings are scheduled for September. The Defy event is happening in Seattle, Washington on September 19 while the WrestlePro show is set for September 21 in Rahway, New Jersey. It will be Kross vs. Richard Holliday at the latter show.

Kross and his wife Scarlett Bordeaux entered into apparent free agency on August 10 when they announced that their WWE contracts had expired. It’s still unclear how much of the situation is legitimate, but Kross has insisted that it’s real and not a work being done by WWE to feed into the “#WeWantKross” fan movement.

The last match Kross had for WWE prior to his contract expiring was at SummerSlam on August 2, where he lost to Sami Zayn. While his goal has been to remain with WWE, Kross claimed that he did not receive a new contract offer from the company until shortly before his deal was about to expire. When he questioned how WWE came to their valuation of the deal, he was given 24 hours to accept or the offer would be rescinded.

This House of Glory booking coincides with Kross and Scarlett appearing at New York Comic Con the weekend of October 10-12.

Leon Slater vs. Amazing Red is set for the October 10 House of Glory show, which is named “With Glory Comes Pride.” Matt & Jeff Hardy have also been announced for the event.

Killer Kross announced for DEFY return, WrestlePro opponent revealed

Posted on by Ian Carey

Killer Kross, the former Karrion Kross in WWE, is set to return to DEFY next month.

DEFY announced on Wednesday that Kross will appear at their event in Seattle on September 19.

“KROSS returns to DEFY on SEPT 19. Old Killer. New Era.”

It’s the second match Kross has been booked for since his WWE departure. He’s also scheduled for a WrestlePro show in Rahway, New Jersey on September 21.

Kross’ opponent for the WrestlePro show next month was also revealed on Wednesday. Richard Holliday posted a video saying he would like to “throw his name in the hat” to wrestle Kross on the show. The former MLW tag champion was in a bookstore, where he picked up a copy of Kross’ “Life is Fighting” and said:

“For a guy who was only on TV for like 15 seconds a week to have WWE help them publish a book, that’s pretty impressive.”

“I want to make sure that this book sale does really well so you can make a lot of money from it because you’re not getting a pay check from them anymore.”

“Yeah, I’m not even going to buy this book,” he said before leaving and not putting the book back on the shelf properly.

Kross responded to Holliday’s video with his own shortly after:

“Richard, my dear friend, thank you so much for reaching out. Hopefully, you picked the book back up and put it back on the shelf.”

“September 21, Rahway, New Jersey, you show up to the Killer Smokeshow. It’ll be a No DQ match and I’ll knock your f—ing teeth out.”

“Hope to see you there. Maybe we’ll get a coffee afterward when I take you to the hospital.”

According to comments he made on The Ariel Helwani Show earlier this month, Kross’ contract expired on August 10 and he is free to take bookings elsewhere. However, Kross said he and Scarlett would both like to return to WWE and hope to resume contract negotiations.

The exchange between Kross and Holilday is below:

Karrion Kross announced for first post-WWE match next month

Posted on by Ian Carey

Karrion Kross and Scarlett are set for an independent show next month.

On Tuesday, WrestlePro announced an event titled Killer Smokeshow for Rahway, New Jersey on September 21. Kross, as Killer Kross, and Scarlett are both booked and Kross will wrestle an as-of-yet-unnamed opponent on the show.

“WRESTLEPRO PRESENTS “KILLER SMOKESHOW” ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21st  You wanted more WrestlePro … You got it!  WrestlePro will return to Rahway, NJ at the Rahway Rec Center just TWO WEEKS after our “Alwayz Ready” event. HUGE ANNOUNCEMENT Killer Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux are BACK! Kross & Scarlett will return to WrestlePro on Sunday September 21st! Killer Kross is scheduled to compete in action with an opponent TBD.  Tickets go on sale tonight at 7pm“

Doors / Meet & Greet – 4:30pm 
Bell time – 6pm
WrestlePro.eventbrite.com“

Kross and Scarlett’s WWE contracts are believed to have expired on August 10. They’ve since been announced for several signings and conventions, but the WrestlePro event is the first time Kross has been advertised to wrestle since departing from WWE.

Kross & Scarlett are billing their upcoming appearances as the “Killer Smokeshow: Carnage Tour.” Their announced bookings are below:

  • Mad Monster Expo: August 22 in Concord, North Carolina
  • Creep I.E. Aftermath: September 5-7 in Ontario, California
  • Silver Scream Con: September 12-14 in Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Scaradise: October 3-4 in Tampa, Florida
  • New York Comic Con: October 10-12 in New York City
  • The Big Event EXS: November 15 in Brentwood, New York

Karrion Kross releases new theme music

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Karrion Kross has new theme music.

Kross announced on social media Sunday released a new theme song in the wake of his WWE departure earlier this month.

“I’ve been hearing of people being disappointed about our theme song no longer being available for listening…5:30 PM Eastern Today. Special Premiere,” he wrote. Later on YouTube, the video premiered:

The video shows Kross looking and arguing with himself in a mirror, playing chess, and writing in a book, as well as what appears to be him praying inside a circle of candles. Towards the end of the video, a message could be seen saying “When one door closes,” perhaps relating to his recent exit from WWE.

Despite Kross’ contract expiring on August 10, both he and Scarlett’s departure from WWE has been a source of constant speculation, with some thinking that it could be an elaborate storyline given WWE’s recent penchant for fooling people. However, Kross in an interview with Ariel Helwani insisted that it’s not a storyline, saying he’s not playing a game.

Karrion Kross responds to WWE SmackDown chants

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Karrion Kross speaks out on SmackDown chants.

During the opening segment of Friday’s show, chants could be heard of ‘We want Kross’ as Sami Zayn and Solo Sikoa were doing a promo. Kross, whose contract with WWE expired on August 10, responded on social media.

“I hear you,” he wrote.

Speculation on Kross’ future became stronger this past Sunday when it was revealed that his and Scarlett’s contracts had expired, with both becoming free agents. On the Ariel Helwani show later in the week, Kross insisted that his situation is real and is not a WWE storyline.

“I’m not trying to turn this into a game. It’s not a game for me, it’s my life. I’m very big on loyalty, but loyalty is a two-way street,” he said. “I’m very interested in trying to recover what I think is easily recoverable, but it takes two people to come together and talk about it. I’m still here.”

Despite being let go, Kross in the interview said that both he and Scarlett still want to be in WWE.

Wrestling Weekly: TNA’s search for a new TV deal, is Karrion Kross a free agent?

Posted on by Victor Sosa

Image: WWE

It’s Friday and that means a new Wrestling Weekly with Les Thatcher & Vic Sosa.

TNA’s search for a new TV deal may directly impact (no pun intended) AEW. We’ll discuss that as well as the status of Karrion Kross, and where both WWE & AEW are headed on their way to Clash in Paris and Forbidden Door.

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend~!

Click here to listen (sub needed)

Killer Kross & Scarlett book more post-WWE appearances

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Killer Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux continue to fill up their appearance schedule as the two insist that they are no longer with WWE.

Earlier this week, it was announced that the married couple will be appearing at The Big Event EXS — where they’ll be signing autographs and meeting fans. They have now added a few more convention appearances to their schedule, but Kross & Scarlett have not been announced for any post-WWE matches yet.

Kross & Scarlett will be appearing at the following, with them billing the appearances as the “Killer Smokeshow: Carnage Tour.”

  • Mad Monster Expo: August 22 in Concord, North Carolina
  • Creep I.E. Aftermath: September 5-7 in Ontario, California
  • Silver Scream Con: September 12-14 in Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Scaradise: October 3-4 in Tampa, Florida
  • New York Comic Con: October 10-12 in New York City
  • The Big Event EXS: November 15 in Brentwood, New York

Kross & Scarlett announced on August 10 that their WWE contracts had expired and they were now taking bookings. While appearing on The Ariel Helwani Show, Kross insisted that the situation is real and not a work that’s being done by WWE to continue building on his momentum as a cult favorite. Kross said he did not receive a WWE contract offer until last week. And when he inquired about how WWE came to the valuation of the deal, WWE gave him 24 hours to accept the contract or it would be rescinded.

Despite the apparent departure, Kross has said his goal has always been to be in WWE — and he would like the contract situation to be resolved with him and Scarlett returning to the company.

“One person involved in independent wrestling brought up they are charging a very high price tag and after the conversation said that they weren’t buying any of this,” Dave Meltzer wrote about Kross & Scarlett in the new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.