WWE’s Talent Releases Are Exactly What Karrion Kross Was Talking About
Being a professional wrestling fan is as challenging as following any other sport. When your favorite team starts making cuts or trades, it can feel like losing a part of your family. This past weekend, WWE experienced what many fans call their “Black Friday.” It's a yearly tradition when WWE starts their mass release of talent post-Mania. 17 superstars were released from their contracts over the weekend. Among the biggest names were: Braun Strowman, Dakota Kai, Shotzi, Shayna Baszler, and Cora Jade. These are wrestlers who have shown real promise and have built strong fan followings. They are what you might call “good soldiers”; dedicated performers who work hard and deserve more opportunities.
This mass release was exactly what Karrion Kross was warning about in a recent work-shoot promo on Sam Roberts’ “WrestleMania Recap” livestream. Kross entered the stream furious over veteran AJ Styles losing to internet star Logan Paul, then shifted gears to talk about advice he received from Goldberg, that he needs to be “a good soldier.” According to Kross, being “a good soldier” means accepting whatever the company gives you, even if it means getting your time cut or potentially being released. Kross knows this all too well.
In 2021, he was one of those “good soldiers,” only to be released himself. During the stream, he expressed when fans booed his elimination during this year's André the Giant Memorial Battle Royal. This indicated that he was the fan favorite to win until the match was won by Carmelo Hayes. He also pointed out that he never asked to be part of Randy Orton’s open challenge at WrestleMania 41. Which was taking place in Kross’ hometown of Las Vegas. The spot was given to the TNA World Champion, Joe Hendry, who is not even fully contracted with WWE. Kross praised Hendry but was angry at the fact he could not even get on the card in his home after his organic rise for a viral moment. Which is seemingly what WWE cares about more than wrestling nowadays.
Fans were shocked by the recent releases. While they knew that WWE would want to clear space for new potential signings like Mariah May, no one could have predicted who would be cut. WWE has reportedly signed Jeff Cobb, so they are going to have to make space for him. Dakota Kai was a fan favorite to become the first-ever Women’s Intercontinental Champion. Braun Strowman had memorable feuds with Bronson Reed and Jacob Fatu. Cora Jade was seen as a rising star, even linked as CM Punk’s “daughter,” as well as being the best friend of Roxanne Perez. Many believed these wrestlers had bright futures and deserved more time to shine. Now, fans are worried that Karrion Kross will be next.
As Kross pointed out, being a “good soldier” means accepting these realities, but it also raises questions about how WWE values and nurtures its talent in the long run. The released main roster stars have 90-day non-compete clauses while NXT stars have 30 days. When those days are up, we will see how these stars will try to show they are more than just “good soldiers.” Wherever they end up, they will have numerous amounts of support from fans.
