WWE Planned On Having Karrion Kross Lose To Jeff Hardy AGAIN This Week

As if the NXT Champion hadn't suffered enough from his first Raw loss...

Karrion Kross
WWE

Karrion Kross mounted a disappointing WWE Raw debut last week, losing to Jeff Hardy in under two minutes after entering the ring without manager Scarlett.

Fightful Select are now reporting that Kross was originally being lined up for another loss to Hardy on this week's Raw, until the veteran's positive COVID-19 test forced WWE to switch gears. The NXT Champion ended up defeating his old black-and-gold rival Keith Lee instead.

While the report doesn't mention any specific creative notes regarding Kross vs. Hardy II, it reiterates that several roster and creative team members were baffled by this and the first loss.

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One of the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast's Andrew Zarian's WWE sources stated earlier this week that the first Hardy defeat was part of a bigger plan for Kross. The NXT Champion had hinted at a feud in his post-match promo, claiming Jeff had made the worst mistake of his life after pinning him with feet on the ropes.

It was reported shortly after Raw that NXT personnel were left "shocked and frustrated" by Kross vs. Hardy I, with one source claiming that it felt like a message was being sent.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.