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WWE has once again shocked the world with mass releases of in-ring talent, with this batch including 2-time NXT Champion Karrion Kross. Kross was brought into NXT with his on and off-screen partner, Scarlett Bordeaux (shortened to Scarlett within NXT), and was quick to assert himself as a legitimate challenger within the brand.
The likes of Bronson Reed, Tomasso Ciampa, Leon Ruff and Danny Burch fell to Kross on his way to Keith Lee and the NXT Championship. In fact, apart from a tag team loss to Danny Burch and Oney Lorcan for the NXT Tag Team Championship alongside Finn Balor, the only loss Karrion Kross suffered in NXT was his NXT Championship defense against Samoa Joe.
Aside from the Joe loss, Kross beat all of his one-on-one competition and captured the NXT Championship twice, with the first reign only coming to an end due to injury.
The dominance of Karrion Kross in NXT failed to translate to his main roster run, debuting without Scarlett and losing via a roll-up to Jeff Hardy. Kross' first match on the main roster after dominating NXT was a loss and completely pulled the rug on his momentum.
Kross was then softly repackaged with new ring gear and presentation but he was still a far cry from the monster we had seen in NXT. While the ending turned out to be so sour, he can take immense pride in his NXT run as he dominated to great effect. He worked well as a monstrous conqueror and was the perfect villain for Samoa Joe to make a triumphant return against.
Kross is bound to find more success in a similar role outside WWE, and will no doubt have challengers lining up waiting to face him. Let's take a look at five faces within AEW that could serve Karrion Kross with gripping feuds.
#5 Karrion Kross vs Adam Cole
Both Karrion Kross and Adam Cole have represented the black and yellow brand of NXT as recently as this year, with Kross holding the NXT Championship Cole pursued at Takeover: In Your House 2021 in a Fatal-5-Way match.
In a tragic sense of irony, it only makes sense that they should stand opposite one another for Kross' first run in the company that helped hammer the nail into the black and yellow coffin, AEW.
Adam Cole famously laid into Kross in a promo, highlighting that he was given star treatment and presentation to make up for his lack of superior in-ring ability. The words were sharp as they echoed the thoughts of the fans and those who had questioned the decision to have Kross steamroll the entire NXT roster and helped to lay the foundation for a feud between the two.
The program never materialised within the walls of WWE, with NXT making the switch back to developmental territory, Kross being drafted to Raw and Cole leaving for AEW; maybe we could see this story realised in AEW?
Karrion Kross and Adam Cole have a story to tell, and they are more than capable of sharing this tale in the ring. They both witnessed the fall of NXT, and should Kross join AEW, both will have the chance to face each other within the company responsible for the fall.
#4 Karrion Kross vs Jon Moxley
Could Jon Moxley give Karrion Kross the baptism of violence to mark his return to life outside WWE?
Moxley is currently absent from AEW owing to his brave decision to step away and work on his personal life. But even when he returns, he will be a great option for Karrion Kross in what would be an absolute fight between the two.
Moxley has established himself throughout his career as someone who lives for the melee that ensues in the ring. He has fought in battles against a variety of different opponents, adopting a range of styles, and has a back catalog of violence that names the likes of Brock Lesnar, Minoru Suzuki, Kenny Omega, Seth Rollins and Lance Archer.
Jon Moxley would offer an excellent feud for Karrion Kross in AEW, in the same way Moxley has aided in cementing Eddie Kingston and Lance Archer.
#3 Karrion Kross vs Lance Archer
As mentioned previously, Lance Archer is someone who has been established on the AEW roster thanks to sinister and violent battles with the likes of Jon Moxley. There hasn't been a clash between Moxley and Archer with rules attached.
You don't earn the moniker "The Murderhawk Monster" for no reason, and Lance Archer ranks among the very best of the no-holds barred mentality in pro wrestling.
Given his powerhouse pedigree within professional wrestling, Lance Archer represents a valid option for Karrion Kross should he step inside AEW. Kross and Archer would be another monstrous clash that the ropes of the squared circle would struggle to contain.
Kross is an attraction within the world of wrestling that needs volatile competition to sustain his Thanos-esque aura, and Archer fits the billing in every respect.
#2 Karrion Kross vs Miro
Like Karrion Kross, Miro is someone who saw his immense run of momentum hit a brick wall through head-scratching booking. Miro ran through WWE as Rusev, sustaining an undefeated streak that led to him winning the US Championship against Sheamus and facing John Cena at WrestleMania, where he entered the event in a tank.
From there, it plummeted downhill. Rusev, despite getting immeasurably over with the fans, was consistently booked with a midcard ceiling above him. He has since returned to being presented as a dominant figure.
Miro has since proven in AEW that he is a force to be reckoned with and looks poised to show that at Full Gear 2021 when he goes face-to-face with Bryan Danielson in the final of the World Title Eliminator Tournament. He has reigned as the TNT Champion, steamrolling the competition throughout his reign and returning to form after his one-off loss to Sammy Guevara.
Miro could represent a look into the future for Karrion Kross at AEW. Their match would be brutal, two powerhouses throwing each other into oblivion and back at the behest of the fans.
In any case, Karrion Kross and Miro could produce a classic clash of the titans affair, cementing Kross as the newest beast on the AEW roster.
#1 Karrion Kross vs Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson is another name that departed WWE this year. Leaving WWE after his contract expired, Bryan debuted for AEW and has since wrestled classic matches with the likes of Kenny Omega, Bobby Fish, Minoru Suzuki and Dustin Rhodes.
Bryan Danielson is now a name within AEW that is so lucrative considering his hybrid of in-ring ability and immense star power; Bryan is capable of working so many different styles and has a history of classics with various workers like Brock Lesnar, Roman Reigns, AJ Styles and Randy Orton, all unique unto themselves and still bonded by natural, flowing chemistry with the American Dragon.
Should anyone, especially Karrion Kross, find themselves looking to establish their name in AEW then they should look no further than the former WWE Champion. Bryan Danielson vs Karrion Kross would be a hard-hitting affair.
Danielson could operate in the underdog role that served him so well in WWE, rallying against the infallible and rampant machine that is Kross. A feud with Danielson would be a surefire way to present Karrion Kross as the newest predator prowling the feeding grounds of All Elite Wrestling.
