Karrion Kross Details Contract Dispute and WWE’s 24-Hour Ultimatum

Karrion Kross Details Contract Dispute and WWE’s 24-Hour Ultimatum originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Karrion Kross has detailed the behind-the-scenes negotiations that led to his WWE departure.

The former WWE wrestler, 40, originally joined WWE with Scarlett in 2020, becoming a dominant force in NXT with two title reigns before jumping to the main brand of the promotion in 2021.

Kross alleges the company gave him just 24 hours to respond to a contract offer before rescinding it, something he didn't do in time, thus his exit from the world-renowned promotion.

Appearing on "The Ariel Helwani Show" on Wednesday, Kross confirmed his deal expired over the past weekend, and that WWE only presented a new offer for a contract renewal as late as last week.

“I never actually received a contract, like, an offer, until last week, I think it was (Aug. 5)," Kross said. "I got the offer. I wanted to know how they came to the valuation of that offer. Just wanted some information, some metrics, some analytics that support, 'Hey, this is how we got here.'" 

Karrion Kross asked how the company came to the valuation of the contract offer and was not given that information.

He was told he had 24 hours to agree to the offer given to him or it would be rescinded.

(The Ariel Helwani Show) pic.twitter.com/aSZBN15c25

— We R Wrestling (@WeRWrestlingg) August 13, 2025

WWE Issued a 24-Hour Ultimatum to Karrion Kross

When Kross approached WWE with a request for more information about the calculations and thought process leading up to the promotion's valuation of him and his contract offer, WWE gave him a hard deadline.

"When I inquired about that, they were unwilling to provide that information and told me I had 24 hours to agree to the offer or they would rescind it," Kross said. "So, you know, the next day, we talk. I ask if they have the information. They don't. And I said, 'I can't make an informed decision without the information, and I'd like to keep the dialogue open.'

"And they rescinded the offer. And that's actually where we're at."

Kross' contract ended five days later on Aug. 10, just five days after WWE initially reached out to him to offer a new deal to the veteran wrestler.

Karrion Kross, from WWE's NXT Champion to Free Agent

Once in the WWE, Kross had a brief, poorly received run with the brand that ended in a first release from the promotion.

Kross returned to the WWE less than a year later and was enjoying his best time in it, building momentum in a budding rivalry with Sami Zayn, losing to him at SummerSlam days before his contract expired.

Kross' comments arrive amid rumors that his and Scarlett’s exits were part of a storyline, but WrestleVotes has reported that both departures are legitimate.

Kross himself told Helwani that he was not "answering questions today as a character" during Wednesday's interview.

Karrion Kross confirms his WWE release is NOT a work.

“No. No, I’m not answering questions today as a character.”

(Ariel Helwani Show)

pic.twitter.com/WsmBxm2YH6

— EliteRockerz 𝕏 (@EliteClubS0B) August 13, 2025

Kross Wants WWE Return Under the Right Terms

As free agents, Kross and Scarlett are now open to deals with AEW, TNA, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, MLW, and other promotions.

Despite the breakdown in talks, Kross insists the door remains open.

“(Other promotions) don't want to reach out (with contract offers) because they're not sure if they're tampering and stuff like that," Kross said. "The goal has always been to be with WWE. My wife and I still want to be with WWE. I’m still at the table for conversations.

"We still wanna be there, we still wanna work it out."

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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 14, 2025, where it first appeared.