WWE's Karrion Kross has opened up on why he turned down AEW to remain a free agent after he was released by WWE.
It's been a busy few months at WWE with a host of big names returning to the company - including one infamous headline-grabbing white rabbit - since chairman Vince McMahon announced his retirement and Paul 'Triple H' Levesque took over as Executive Vice President for Talent Relations.
Kross and Scarlett Bordeaux, his real-life wife and on-screen valet, were among the first stars brought back by Levesque, making an explosive debut which saw them intervening in Drew McIntyre's match against Roman Reigns at Cardiff's Clash at the Castle.
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The pair had just moved from NXT to the main RAW roster when they were unceremoniously released in November 2021 but, despite having talks with Tony Khan's AEW, they decided not to sign on the dotted line and continued working independent shows instead.
Speaking exclusively to Mirror Sport about his time away from WWE and eventual return, Kross said: "There was there was an idea that was proposed to me to come and do something there [at AEW]. But it was just so abundantly clear to me from dealing with fans face to face, that a WWE return was what people wanted to see.
"It was always flattering. We were grateful we were receiving offers to do things but at the end of the day we knew we really should not tie ourselves down contractually somewhere else.
"We'd be in airports, we'd be in restaurants, in gyms, meet and greets, you name it anywhere, and we would have people come up to just pour their hearts out and express a lot of admiration and regret that things did not play out the way that they wanted them to, telling us how heartbroken they were that they never got to see the continuity of what we created in NXT come up to the main roster. So in the back of our minds every single time we got an offer that was a deciding factor."
So when the call came - from Triple H himself no less - Kross and Bordeaux didn't hesitate. He said: "We had a quick chat and we heard everything that we would hope to hear in the phone call, with the most important question being 'would you like to come home?' And we said 'of course.'
So does it really feel like coming home for the pair?
"Absolutely. Yeah. For real. Scarlett and I always thought we were gonna be lifers with WWE. It's not necessarily just about being with the company, but it's about being on a global stage and having the ability to perform and entertain people in packed houses all over the world. That has always been our goal."
Kross will be appearing at WWE Live in Glasgow on October 30. where he'll be facing Drew McIntyre in front of a hometown crowd in the latest instalment of their ongoing and increasingly brutal feud.
Kross is very complimentary of the Scottish veteran, describing working with him as the perfect challenge to kick start his return to the main roster. He said: "It's been an excellent experience. Yes, he's a giant human being and punching him feels like trying to punch a truck. But because he's been around for so long he's very knowledgeable and he's a perfect person for me to be in the ring with."
Kross does have one eye on the next challenge though, and there's one name top of the list.
He said: "Of course it's Bray Wyatt. If you don't want to work with him you're crazy. I've always had a very strong admiration for his creativity. I feel like he opens doors, not only for fans, literally, but he opens up new avenues for us to create for everyone as performers. When he dares to do something different it just brings more possibilities.
"One of my favourite quotes, especially growing up, was the old saying 'anything can happen in the WWE' and when he's around it's totally true."
* Karrion Kross will be appearing alongside Drew McIntyre at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on October 30. Also on the card are Natalya, Sheamus, Solo Sikoa and The Usos, among others. Tickets for the event are available here.
WWE is shown in the UK on BT Sport which is available with a no contract monthly pass here or on the WWE Network.
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