Killer Kross is making it very clear that life after WWE has not just been creatively better for him — it has also worked out financially.
During his appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Kross was asked whether it is possible for a wrestler to make more money outside WWE than inside the company. Kross did not dance around it. He said it depends on what WWE offers, but the answer is absolutely yes.
“Depending on what you’re offered from them, yes.”
When Ariel Helwani asked if that was absolutely possible, Kross confirmed it.
“Absolutely. Yes.”
Helwani then asked Kross if he had already reached that point personally. Kross said he got there immediately after leaving WWE.
“Yes. I was I was there right away.”
Kross explained that he already knew his market value while he was still in talks with WWE. That confidence played a major role in how he handled those conversations.
“I knew my market value in the middle of the conversation that I was having with them, which is why I proceeded confidently with how I tried to discuss things with them because I was prepared to show them all of that and talk about that and demonstrate all that. But as you know, we talked, they just said it was irrelevant.”
That comment adds another layer to Kross’ WWE exit, because he was not just leaving with frustration over creative. He believed he understood his own value, and WWE apparently did not view that the same way. Kross also talked about how wrestling contracts can be misleading from the outside. Fans hear about multi-year deals, but Kross pointed out that those deals do not always guarantee a wrestler is safe for the full term.
“I just remember people saying like, you know, this might not last forever. Well, neither can a contract. Like if they can terminate at any point for any reason, really all you know you’re guaranteed is 90 days of pay when you’re on a non-compete.”
He continued by saying fans often do not think about how quickly a long-term deal can disappear if a company decides to change direction.
“People hear three year, 5 year, 10 year contract. If they just decide to go in another direction, that’s wild. No one ever thinks about it like that.”
Kross compared that structure to UFC contracts, saying those deals are also built heavily in favor of the company.
“In the world of UFC, the clause is usually if you’re coming off a loss, they can cut you. So if you win seven in a row and they hate you, they can’t cut you. But if you get that one loss under your belt, now you’re free to be cut. So these guys who celebrate, you know, 10 fight deals, eight fight deals, you can lose the first one on that deal and be cut, but you can’t leave after the first one, right? You can’t. So it’s all in their favor.”
Earlier in the interview, Kross also explained how he has been building his business outside WWE. He said he studied WWE’s model and paid close attention to how the company monetized talent through different revenue lanes.
“When I was in WWE, I did my best to study the business model. I’ve always said that. I looked at how they treated the talents like, you know, a return on investment obviously, but like how they would monetize individual lanes of revenue.”
Since becoming a free agent, Kross said he has been building those lanes himself instead of relying on one major platform.
“What I’ve been doing since I’ve been a free agent is I’ve been making contact with a lot of independent vendors and building those lanes myself. So just cutting out the middleman, the super platform so to speak, that just broadcast you out to the world and being like, here’s my platform. Here’s what I have.”
Kross said that approach means he is not only depending on wrestling appearances to bring in money.
“And so I’m not reliant on just doing wrestling shows.”
That is why Kross sounds so comfortable with his current situation. He is working independents, staying active, handling business directly, and keeping his freedom open. He also made it clear that leaving WWE changed his life for the better.
“This is one of the best things that ever happened to me in my entire life. I look you dead in the face and I tell you the truth, dude, for real.”
Kross said he feels more fulfilled now because he knows what he can actually do when he is not being limited.
“I feel more fulfilled now performing because I know what I’m capable of. I know what I can really do.”
For Kross, the money side seems to prove the bigger point. WWE may be the biggest stage, but he says he was able to reach a better financial place on his own right away. That says a lot about how valuable a wrestler can be once they control their schedule, bookings, vendor deals, and brand without waiting for a company to give them a lane.
