Much has been made of the fact that Karrion Kross’ WWE contract has yet to be renewed – it is reportedly due to run out this coming week – which could see him depart the company.
Recent months have seen Kross build his own cult following, largely due to his innovative self-promotion on social media, and fans in the arenas have gotten behind it, to the point that Paul Heyman acknowledged this week on Ariel Helwani’s show that “The audience is calling for him to be a bigger star.”
Based on this, Kross’ imminent departure could very well be a storyline, just like Seth Rollins’ recent “injury”; however, if it is real, given his clear popularity, he could walk into AEW with significant momentum.
Below are six individuals he could face in his potential debut AEW bout.
6. Konosuke Takeshita
Given the high level of work-rate expected in AEW, Kross would need to produce a banger in his debut bout.
There are few individuals in all of pro wrestling right now who have proven themselves to be able to have incredible matches with anyone quite like Konosuke Takeshita.
The 30-year-old is currently on hiatus from AEW, tearing it up in New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax Tournament, putting in one outstanding match after another in the round-robin competition.
Takeshita could make Kross look like a main-event level player if chosen as his debut opponent.
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5. Ricochet
There are definite comparisons between Kross and Ricochet.
Ricochet was himself underutilised in WWE and had to leave to become a bigger star in wrestling.
Betting on himself and leaving WWE, his heel run in AEW has exceeded many expectations, as he has proven highly effective as a despicable character while finding the in-ring form he previously demonstrated on the indies.
Given the comparisons and Ricochet’s skill in making his opponents look good, he could be the ideal choice as Kross’ first opponent and provide a blueprint for getting over in AEW.
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4. Kyle Fletcher
This last year has seen Kyle Fletcher develop into one of the best big-match wrestlers in all of pro wrestling.
In addition to this, his alliance with Don Callis has helped him develop his character, making him one of the most despicable heels.
Fletcher is a future top star, but more than this, however, he is a maniac in the ring.
Putting him in there with Karrion Kross, he will do anything and everything to get the match over with the AEW audience.
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3. RUSH
Mexican star RUSH is an unhinged wild man in the ring – his ferocious brawling style sets him apart from everyone else on the AEW roster.
Given Karrion Kross’ MMA-influenced moveset, their respective in-ring styles could mesh perfectly.
We could expect the pair to have a brutal, non-stop strike battle, complete with Brainbusters added in for good measure.
RUSH himself, like Kross in WWE, can make an argument for being underutilised, but their pairing would be a highly crowd-pleasing bout for Kross’ debut.
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2. Josh Alexander
Karrion Kross and AEW’s Josh Alexander share some in-ring history: the pair met in a short bout on TNA’s B-show Xplosion in 2017, a five-minute match that saw Kross pick up the win.
Given their extensive time spent both on the indies and in TNA, it seems likely they would have shared the ring more often.
In the years since their meeting, Alexander has developed into one of the most consistently excellent in-ring performers, able to unfailingly deliver high-level main event-style bouts.
Alexander could certainly be depended upon to ensure that Kross looks impressive in his debut bout for AEW.
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1. Jon Moxley
Arriving in AEW, Karrion Kross would need a big-time victory, and there are few bigger names than four-time AEW World Champion Jon Moxley.
Not only would Moxley be a huge name to beat, but their in-ring styles would also work together.
Both are brawlers who like to throw suplexes and both have legit backgrounds in submissions.
Theirs could be a brutal, blood-soaked battle of attrition that sees Kross beat one of the company’s top names.
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