Killer Kross Is Exactly What Wrestling Needs Right Now

Killer Kross is among the most compelling wrestlers on the planet. Not in terms of interesting or underrated. Compelling. Kross makes wrestling feel dangerous not because he is unsafe, but because he is the type of guy who seems to believe every entrance and every stare is the beginning of something not to be ignored and not to be taken lightly. For years, what Kross could have been, should have been, and what he should have been understood has been heavily discussed. However, it is safe to say the current run of Killer Kross has made this debate all but meaningless. Now, he doesn’t need anybody to support or allow him to go on with what he believes. He’s doing it. Now, he is proving the point everywhere independently, in MLW, in movies, in books, at conventions, and, of course, with Scarlett Bordeaux.

The NXT Run: Tick Tock, and Then Everything Exploded

Karrion Kross in NXT was not subtle and thank goodness for that. Wrestling needs some subtlety, but it also needs a guy who shows up through smoke and doom clocks with apocalyptic lighting while Scarlett Bordeaux has seemingly summoned the end of days. His entrance was a big deal because of how the presentation emphasized the importance of his entrance and the silence before he was violent.

His destruction of Tommaso Ciampa at TakeOver: In Your House was the mission statement.

Though Kross’s body of work would leave some to consider Kross a one dimensional performer and more so a ‘presentation’, Kross has exhibited matches of a more ‘physical’, ‘patient’, and ‘nasty’ intelligence - such as his match against Bálor. Bálor in fact, is one of Kross's best arguments against the one dimensional performer he autumns, having exhibited a more ‘smart’ match.

Kross had a few more of what I’d like to call horror gimmick matches, which ‘should’ have been more ‘big budget’. Not only did he lose his ‘mystique’ by having to face the horror gimmick match stage, and a load of other ‘mess’, he also had to deal with the unfortunate.

WWE Gave Him Moments But Never the Whole Kingdom.

The Kingdom gimmick has had a more ‘big budget’ touch and a tinge of Kross's preferred supernatural style. To many, Kross's preferred style has been exhibited in one of his most recent stints with the WWE; the more wrestling focused segments with his partner Scarlett, his segments with Drew McIntyre and Roman Reigns, as well as his outstanding in ring work. Kross, in fact, is one of the top wrestlers in the business right now.

The frustration was that WWE seemed to admire the components but never delivered the entire product.

Killer Kross's post-WWE chapter is refreshing. He is no longer restricted to being a television personality, allowing his character to be the fully developed threat that he is. Kross is in control, showing the wrestling world that the art is best appreciated when the performers are liberated enough to reach through the audience and grab you.

The Indies: ACW, GCW, MLW and the Beautiful Chaos of Freedom

Killer Kross has found where he thrives within independence wrestling. GCW allows Kross to be as free as he wants to be. ACW provides him with the opportunity to be a horror movie-tinged heavyweight prizefighter. MLW allows Kross the opportunity to be a conquering warlord. That blending of promotions where Kross thrives is the reason his stock is highest it’s ever been. He isn’t just working independent wrestling promotions, he is creating an ecosystem around himself.

Kross’ return to MLW is also tremendously important, as MLW recognizes the importance of dangerous men with an air of mystique. Kross also doesn’t need much of an introduction. A dark room, a camera, a brave, or perhaps foolish, opponent, and Kross will be able to sell the match without the bell ever needing to ring. GCW provides a chaotic and violent space to mesh Kross’ personality.

ACW is when Kross’ stock begins to show why he is such a valuable asset. Promotions want to book Kross because he can move tickets, create clips, start conversations, be a credible main event, and be a meet and greet the next. Kross is a wrestler, an actor, a brand, a character engine, and a walking cliffhanger.

Scarlett Bordeaux: The Secret Weapon Who Was Never Secret

Killer Kross cannot be discussed without Scarlett Bordeaux. Their combine act is much more than just a wrestler and manager. Their combine act is much more than just a wrestler and manager. It is a vibe. It is a ritual.

Scarlett's style is dangerously alluring. She knows how to cultivate an image better than most in the industry. Too many forget that your entrance actually begins before you've hit the curtain. A well-calculated look can mean more than the move you hit. There is nothing 'outdated' about having a little mystique if you know how to utilize it.

She has always been an amplifier, but a true partnership means you have to be equal. Scarlett is danger and elegance personified. She adds a certain level of strangeness around Kross, and unpredictability to the elegance. Their chemistry works because it feels like a performance but still feels real. Kross and Scarlett together is a true act. It is the type of act that wrestling is lacking but sorely needs. An act that feels deserving of the main event. An act that feels like it could (and should) be on a movie poster and nightmare inducing fight trailers.

Kross's First Book, His Film Career and Building His Brand

Kross, outside of the squared circle, has become a more riveting character because of this thought process outside of the ring. Kross’s memoir, Life Is Fighting, published under his real name of Kevin Kesar, shows that he, without a doubt, is not just taking on a character; he is constructing a myth. That is what modern wrestling is; a canvas and Kross has hands down the best paint.

His film career strengthens the same argument. His acting in Blue Evening, written and directed by Jett Jansen, shows that he has no qualms about pushing the limits outside of the ring. Wrestling has always been part sport, part theatre, part cinema and part carnival. Kross gets all four.

There is intentionality to his overall appeal, and this is why he feels relevant at this point in time. He gives off the impression of someone who could easily headline a wrestling show on Friday, act in a noir thriller on Saturday, and sell out a table at a fan convention on Sunday.

Best Matches And Moments:

Karrion Kross vs. Tommaso Ciampa: NXT TakeOver: In Your House: An amazingly destructive debut. Kross was given the measuring stick, and snapped the ruler in half.

Karrion Kross vs. Keith Lee: NXT TakeOver XXX: An important victory for Kross, and essentially a first look for the audience to understand the type of competitor WWE now possessed, even with the injury that thwarted the plans for the immediate future.

Karrion Kross vs. Finn Bálor: NXT TakeOver: Stand & Deliver: A perfect example of kinetic wrestling. Bálor’s style is all about execution and Kross’s is about sustained pressure. An excellent stylistic match and in particular one of Kross’s best performances.

Killer Kross vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr.  Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport: A great example of Kross wrestling without all the bells and whistles. Just pure wrestling.

Killer Kross vs. Tom Lawlor, MLW Fusion: An excellent example for Kross of just how good and capable he can be in a fight style based environment.

The Scarlett led NXT entrance: It’s not technically a match, but is definitely a moment. Kross’s entrance, complete with all the smoke and the hourglass, is one of the defining moments of his era.

The “We Want Kross” wave: One of the more recent and impressive signs that the audience was not just ready for Kross, but was also pleading with the industry to be ready for what they had to offer.

Why Killer Kross Is Hot Property Right Now

Hot property is essentially how Kross is viewed by the industry and for good reason. There is plenty of room for him to expand and grow his brand.

Dedicated observers of the sport are convinced he has the ability to mount a serious challenge for the world title again, while promoters are confident that they could mount a successful promotional campaign for one of his bouts using just a poster and a photograph of his trademark steely glare. Rival competitors know that his bout with them will give them cred, because for a lot of them, facing him is living the dream. Fans are growing to appreciate competitors who wrestle outside the confines of the big players.

He is also in demand because he is versatile. He looks ready for a cinematic promo. He looks ready for a Bloodsport-style fight. He looks ready to co-star with Scarlett in a goth wrestling opera. He looks ready to wrestle in MLW, GCW, or ACW, and instantly raises the promotion's stakes. That versatility is a rare attribute to have, especially in a profession with plenty of skilled competitors. Very few can change a room with their presence the way he can.

Killer Kross also possesses a rare and wholly self-propelling momentum that adds to his appeal. That alone is magic. His worth was evident to the audience without a corporate campaign. They saw him, remembered him, debated him, chanted for him, and followed him to the next chapter. In wrestling, this genuine heat is invaluable.

Final Word: The Clock Is Still Ticking

Killer Kross is a complete wrestling act. He is not a nostalgia act. He is neither a failed Vince McMahon project. He is not just another large man with an eerie entrance. He is everything that modern wrestling demands.

It is hard to deny that Scarlett Bordeaux’s presence combined with Kross’s growing indie schedule and MLW, will give Kross more power than he has had in a while. Fans have always believed that Kross had more star power than other wrestlers, and for good reason.

What fans did not expect is that Kross has now stepped outside wrestling to make a name for himself as an actor. He is using his impressive stature to pursue a career in the film industry. Fans of Kross and wrestling in general better be ready for an entertaining surprise because Kross has all the potential to be a major movie star as well as an amazing pro wrestler.

The bottom line is he will have fans coming and cheering for him, and for good reason. Kross is a man of talent and skill and it would be criminal for him to not express that talent for the world to see. Killing the gimmick he has wrestled with for a while, Kross will be a force in and out of the squared circle.