Karrion Kross is not ruling out AEW following his WWE exit, but he is making it clear that he is not rushing into anything at the moment.
While speaking to Ariel Helwani, Karrion Kross was asked whether he had spoken with AEW after becoming a free agent. Kross did not give away private details, but he made it clear he respects Tony Khan.
“This is what I will say—I have a tremendous amount of respect for Tony Khan, and he knows that, and I prefer to keep those conversations private out of respect for Tony and myself.”
When Helwani asked if the AEW door was open, Kross gave a simple answer: “I think it’s always been open.” Kross then explained why he did not immediately jump to another major company after leaving WWE. According to him, he had already accepted bookings into 2026 and did not want to abandon independent promoters or fans just because a bigger opportunity came along.
“Sort of, but I was booked out into the new year till 2026. I’m serious about my commitments. The only time I’ll pull out is if there’s something wrong with me and my family.”
Kross said he does not want to be the kind of wrestler who drops everything, including titles and advertised appearances, just to chase a bigger payday.
“I’m not one of those guys that want to just drop a title or go missing because a big opportunity comes up. I feel that tells the local fans that paid to see you and put you in a position to carry the title, ‘Thanks for the money and the support, but there’s more money here, so I’m just going to dip and leave this belt on the ground.’ I don’t like doing that.”
That does not mean AEW is off the table. Kross said anything can happen if the timing and situation are right: “So if everything aligns, I think everything is possible.” He also made it clear that he is in a good place personally and financially: “I’m happy, dude—and quite frankly, super financially stable.”
This comes after Scarlett previously said that AEW had been discussed before they returned to WWE in 2022, but the creative direction did not make sense at the time. She also made it clear that if they ever go to AEW, they would treat it like a serious long-term home.
For now, Karrion Kross is enjoying the freedom of the independent scene while keeping every major option open. AEW may still be possible, but Kross clearly wants the move to make sense creatively, professionally, and personally before anything happens.
What do you think about Karrion Kross saying the AEW door has always been open? Would you like to see him and Scarlett join AEW? Let us know your thoughts and feedback in the comments below.
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