AEW has done a stellar job of building the MJF versus Wardlow feud ahead of Double Or Nothing, but it sounds like Killer Kross was almost introduced into that beef a few weeks ago. The former NXT champion hasn't appeared on television since defeating John Morrison—who coincidentally just made his AEW debut as Johnny Elite—in October of 2021. Kross was released a month later and has stayed busy on the independent scene since.
As a stipulation to face Friedman at Double Or Nothing, Wardlow was tasked with taking down a giant of MJF's choosing on the May 4 episode of Dynamite. W. Morrissey, formally known as Big Cass in WWE, was tabbed for the match against War Dog, but another massive ex-NXT star was discussed as a possibility as well. According to reports, AEW reached out to Killer Kross about the possibility of being MJF's giant of choice.
In a recent post, Fightful wrote that Kross "was approached for the match against Wardlow," but then "the two sides couldn't come to terms for the appearance and decided against it." According to the report, Kross learned that his wife, Scarlett Bordeaux, wouldn't "be a part of the presentation in All Elite Wrestling," and became concerned that his debut would fall flat because of that. It's important to note that Fightul says that "AEW and Kross are on good terms and there's a possibility they'll do business in the future."
It's tough to disagree with Kross' concerns about Bordeaux not being included in his act during his AEW debut. The pair have a remarkable amount of on-screen chemistry, and things fell apart for him when he was called up from NXT to WWE's main roster as a solo act. The gimmick change certainly didn't help, but Bordeaux may have been enough to even make that work. They've been working together on the independents over the last several months, and say they're making as much as they did in WWE with Kross at just 36.
There's no reason to rush into a relationship with AEW if the timing isn't right, and it seems like that's the conclusion Kross arrived at earlier this month. Morrissey, to his credit, performed well in the role of MJF's giant, and his character didn't take a hit at all despite eating the pin. Meanwhile, the door remains open for Kross to land in AEW, and should that happen; All Elite will have added one of the top free agents currently available. There are a lot of great matches Kross could put on in the promotion, so here's to hoping the two sides figure something out eventually.
Source: Fightful