During a virtual signing with Highspots Wrestling Network, the former Karrion Kross discussed a variety of topics, including his second NXT Title run from April to August of 2021.
While he wound up dropping the title to Samoa Joe on his way out of NXT, Kross told Highspots that both he and Scarlett Bordeaux had hoped to benefit another NXT performer that was very hot around that time.
No, I don’t think Kyle O’Reilly’s underrated. I was actually — I don’t know. We [Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux] were always talking about — it’s not up to us but like ideally, if we wanted to lose the belt to anyone, we actually were hoping it was gonna be Kyle O’Reilly because it would have complemented his story arc. He was supposed to be the one that kind of broke out of Undisputed [ERA] and he was — you know what I mean? And we were building in that direction. We just would’ve been cool [with that happening]. They had me undefeated for, you know, over a year and to put him over clean to pass off all the momentum I think would have been the best-case scenario in our opinion.
Killer Kross on Highspots Wrestling Network
O’Reilly was part of a five-way for the title at NXT In Your House in June of 2021, alongside Kross and challengers Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, and Pete Dunne. Kross made O’Reilly pass out in the Kross Jacket to retain the title, and O’Reilly would not get another title shot before his departure from the company around six months later.
Kross made his on-screen debut with WWE in April of 2020, and upon making his first in-ring appearance, he embarked on an impressive winning streak, including defeating Keith Lee for the NXT Championship at NXT Takeover 30. He relinquished the title due to injury, but returned around three months later, and continued his winning ways, eventually defeating Finn Bálor for the NXT Championship at NXT Stand and Deliver Night 2, in the lead-up to WrestleMania weekend in 2021.
Kross would wind up losing the title to Samoa Joe at NXT Takeover 36, in what would become his last match for the black and gold brand.
Kross is now officially a free agent, with his non-compete having expired as of February 1, and has already worked a couple of independent matches in the last week.
H/T Highspots Wrestling Network, w/ POST Wrestling for transcription
Follow Kyle Sparks on Twitter at @kyleksparks.
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