This Released Wrestler Turned AEW Down For WWE
Here's why this recently cut WWE wrestler turned down AEW a few years ago.
Former WWE wrestler Killer Kross has gone into detail on why he chose to sign with WWE over AEW in 2020.
Interviewed by Chris Van Vliet, the former NXT Champion said that working for WWE was his childhood dream - and that he'd wanted to be part of the promotion since watching it on television as a kid (h/t SEScoops)::-
“Well, I feel like there’s a lot of people out there who are gonna relate to this and there’s a lot of people who are not gonna relate to this. But I wanna be honest with you. I was honest with you last time. I knew since I was a little kid when I was watching this on TV that I could be there and I could do this and perform at the highest level. I knew that since I was a little kid and little kids think they know everything."
Kross continued outlining his early fandom, saying that his family was always supportive of his journey towards Stamford:-
“So, it’s hard for your parents and your family and your friends to really get behind statements and these ideas that you have as a child because they wanna steer you in the right direction. They don’t wanna burst your bubble but as time went on, nobody in my family was ever doing anything like this. It just seemed like such a foreign idea to get involved with that but to me, it wasn’t. I’m telling you, man I felt something here as a kid that told me that I could do it. It was the first thing I ever watched was WWF/WWE and part of me always wanted to be there.”
The 36-year-old was with WWE from February 2020 until 4 November 2021, when he was let go in another swooping round of "budget cuts." He is currently running down a standard 90-day non-compete clause preventing him from signing or appearing for another promotion before 2 February.
Kross left WWE as a two-time NXT Champion, but endured an unfortunate main roster run on Raw, with much of what got his developmental act over stripped away - including valet Scarlett.