Photo Credit- WWE
I think it’s fair to say that Karrion Kross hasn’t had the best start on the main roster. The reigning NXT Champion was pinned by Jeff Hardy, before trading wins with Keith Lee. Many fans are angered at this current booking. It seems highly disrespectful to the NXT booking and storyline. Kross is crushing all those who challenge his title on Tuesday nights, but is on a 1-2 record on Mondays? Some have even gone as far as to totally write off Karrion Kross on the main roster. I disagree with this pessimism however. I would say that there is an easy way to redeem Karrion Kross on RAW right now. All that it would take is turning his current feud with Keith Lee into something meaningful.
Grudge Match
Karrion Kross and Keith Lee is a natural grudge match, due to their history on NXT. At Takeover XXX, Kross ended the fairytale story of Keith Lee’s championship reign. Lee then moved up to RAW whilst Kross had to vacate the title due to a separated shoulder. It seems logical to use this to construct a meaningful feud, since both men cost the other something.
Karrion Kross is the devil from Keith Lee’s past. He’s the man who took his title and chased him out of NXT. He hurt Lee’s friends and made his life hell. Conquering the Doomsday Angel will allow Keith Lee to put this dark chapter of his career behind him.
Keith Lee is someone who Karrion Kross has beaten before and can do so again. If he can’t overcome the Limitless One, then how can he truly be a dominant force? Kross needs to excise the memory of that loss to Jeff Hardy from the WWE Universe’s memory. How better to do so than by crushing a beloved fan favourite?
Acknowledge The Past
In two paragraphs, I constructed a meaningful feud between the two performers that draws on their shared history, a history WWE is yet to fully acknowledge. That’s the main problem with this hypotheyical scenario. WWE has not exactly been consistent in discussing the goings on back in the black-and-gold brand. However, if they were to acknowledge this backstory, a longer, more meaningful feud could result. It seems that Kross might be moving up to RAW before too long, so him going over Lee might make sense. On the other hand, WWE might want to build up Keith Lee as a challenger to Bobby Lashley. Ultimately, this feud serves as the perfect starting point for either or both men to go on to big things on RAW.
So, there you have it. It is absolutely possible to redeem Karrion Kross on the main roster. By booking a simple feud based on past history, WWE can elevate Kross or Keith Lee. All it would take is an acknowledgment of NXT.
