Karrion Kross Accuses WWE of Using “Gross” Manipulative Tactics During Contract Negotiations

Karrion Kross and Scarlett parted ways with WWE once their contracts expired, but it was an uphill battle from the very beginning. Unsurprisingly, Kross has now accused WWE of using manipulative tactics during contract talks.

While speaking on Coach and Bro, when asked about being given a contract offer and then having it taken away in 24 hours, Karrion Kross explained that he and Scarlett didn’t panic.

They didn’t see it as the end of the world if things didn’t work out exactly how they wanted. Performing at a high level matters to them, but not if the situation is unfair or disrespectful. They’re not young and desperate anymore, so they’re not going to tolerate being spoken to poorly or pressured.

“We just kind of shrugged. We’re not fatalists, like, ‘If we can’t do what we want, it’s the end of the world.’ Of course it means the world to us to be there and perform at our best — but not under those conditions. We’ve always approached things with logic and fairness. And if that’s not going to be met, we’re not young, starving 20-year-olds who are going to subject ourselves to being spoken to like that. We know what’s going on.”

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Instead of agreeing or walking away, they tried to keep the discussion open. They made it clear they weren’t rejecting the offer, simply asking to talk things through. But someone involved tried to twist the situation and threatened to tell upper management that they had declined the contract.

That wasn’t true at all, and Karrion had to step in and tell them not to put words in his mouth. The whole exchange felt manipulative and Kross said it came across as strategic in the worst way, and the tone of it was uncomfortable and gross.

“So if the conversation isn’t going to proceed fairly, we’ll just say, ‘We’d like to keep the dialogue open. We’re not saying no. We just want to continue discussing this.’ And at one point, the guy goes, ‘Well, we’re going to tell them you declined the offer.’ And I said, ‘Don’t do that, because that’s not what I said. Don’t put words in my mouth. If you’re going to say something, say that I want to keep the dialogue open.’ The whole conversation felt strategic on their end. Strategic — and very gross.”

For Kross and Scarlett, it mattered more to stand up for themselves than to stay in WWE under unfair conditions. They knew what they were worth, and they weren’t going to let anyone pressure them into accepting something that didn’t feel right. Regardless, only time will tell if they ever return to WWE, as they’re clearly thriving in the indies right now.

What do you think about Karrion Kross calling out WWE’s negotiation tactics?
Should WWE handle contract talks differently — or is this just the nature of business in wrestling? Sound off in the comments.

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