6 Ups & 3 Downs From WWE Night Of Champions 2025 (Results & Review)

2. Latest False Dawn For Karrion Kross

Kross and Sami Zayn tried to tell a solid story here, but their battle turned out to be one of the weaker bouts on the card. It could’ve happened on a random episode of Raw and no-one would've blinked, truth be told. That really sucks for Kross, because this writer happens to be a big fan of his, but it’d be a lie to say his match at NOC vs. Sami was anything other than functional.

Further, Karrion losing is a puzzling decision, and it didn’t even need to happen as a balancing act for babyface wins on the night. Cody Rhodes, Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill had that side of things covered, so would it have really killed WWE's creative team to toss Kross a bone and let both he and Scarlett look like a potent threat to the rest of the Raw roster?

No, no it wouldn't have, but the folks in charge seemingly don't see Karrion as anything more than a glorified jobber to the stars. He'd be right to be frustrated by that. Kross has worked hard to cultivate a following online, and there's nothing especially wrong with his work on the mic or between the ropes. Here, in a higher profile spot than normal, he was visibly doing everything he could to sell story first and foremost.

So what's missing? WWE interest, that's what. No wrestler (no matter how driven) can force a promotion to care about them or invest in the character they're selling. That's just the way of it. For Karrion, it's back to the drawing board. For Zayn, it's another step on the slow burn ladder towards a possible World Title win.

What more does Kross need to do though?! If only this bout had been a little more juicy bell to bell.