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The National
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The National
WWE's Karrion Kross on reinvention, rumours and rising fan support
Karrion Kross holds a special place in his heart for Saudi Arabia. He's back in Riyadh for WWE's weekend events, including SmackDown and Night of Champions, where he'll go head-to-head with Sami Zayn. The match marks his first singles bout on a premium live event since his steel cage loss to Drew McIntyre at Crown Jewel in November 2022, which also took place in the Saudi capital. Although it's been a while, Kross (real name Kevin Kesar) is grateful for the chance to compete in a place where he's always felt welcomed. 'I've wrestled once, I believe, out of the five times I've been here, and it was against Drew McIntyre inside of a steel cage,' Kross tells The National. 'The other times I've been here, I have been received so overwhelmingly warm and enthusiastic by the fans. 'I was surprised because I'm not a hyper-featured character in comparison to other characters in the show. You'd think that they would go 10 times crazier for them, as opposed to me – just speaking with humility. But I've always been received really well by the fans here.' The support hasn't been limited to the Middle East. Over the past few months, Kross has been gaining momentum as more fans rally behind him for more TV time. But did he ever doubt himself? 'I knew we would get here because I had a career before WWE. Obviously, the peak of my successes is WWE – it's the biggest and best company in the world – because I believe in my ability to connect with the audience.' Kross admits it's not always easy to explain this without sounding critical. After all, WWE is a produced television show – 'you're not just showing up and doing or saying whatever you want,' he says – and that means working within the boundaries of the storylines provided. When he was with NXT, he says he played a version of Karrion Kross that the company was high on: a cryptic figure. But in his view, that kind of character works best when it's tied to dominance in the ring. 'If you're quiet and stoic and you're staring up at the lights a lot, there's a disconnect for the audience,' he explains. Although it's taken some time, he made adjustments and created other versions of the character – ones that could still engage viewers without relying on the exact formula used during his NXT run. It's all about entertaining people and putting a smile on their face Karrion Kross He also points to another personal trait that helped him evolve: a dark sense of humour. 'My whole family has it,' he says. 'It's how we deal with stress, loss and grief.' That same sensibility has eventually found its way into his on-screen persona. He felt that adding a layer of dark humour to the otherwise ominous and manipulative character would help audiences relate more – and so far, he's been right. 'It's all about entertaining people and putting a smile on their face,' he says. That connection, he adds, is also thanks to the people he shares the ring with. 'It takes two to tango,' and having the right opponents – and enough time on television – has made a difference. With success comes scrutiny. As Kross's popularity grows, so do the rumours and theories about why his rise has taken time. One of the latest to circulate online is the claim that he doesn't take 'flat back bumps' – the wrestling move where a performer lands flat on their back after being hit. 'I thought out of all the crazy articles that are fabricated about me every week, that was the weakest,' he says, laughing. 'There was another wild one I saw last week that was even funnier. It said something like, 'Karrion Kross is going to come to Monday Night Raw and he's going to quit and do a shoot promo live, and then walk out.' I thought that was a good one. 'But I don't really respond to any of them. There's a crazy one about me every week or two. You just kind of have to laugh.' Although he can't predict exactly where his career will go next, Kross says he's grateful for everything that's happened so far and has a heartfelt message for his fans in the Middle East. 'I love you guys. You've all been so kind to me and my wife. Every time I've come here, we look forward to coming here every single time. We look forward to new experiences, meeting people and entertaining people, and being able to provide that little bit of relief – for escapism, for fun – when we have the opportunity to perform in front of all of you. 'Thank you for being with me. I'm learning how to track metrics online with videos and stuff like that, and about regions. I learnt this year how many fans that I'm able to track are here. And I'm very honoured and grateful and humbled by all of the fan support and I can't wait to fight Sami live. I can't wait to come back again after that.'
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who's in WWE Money in the Bank? Qualifiers for men's, women's matches
This week, WWE stars will grab a possible career-changing victory. Money in the Bank 2025 is on the horizon as one of WWE's major premium live events features the famed titular matches. The men's and women's Money in the Bank matches each feature six competitors fighting it out to be the one to climb the ladder and retrieve the briefcase hanging above the ring. Secure it and the winner has a contract that can be used for a WWE championship opportunity at any point in the next year. Advertisement Qualifying matches have taken place in recent weeks, and the final spots in the men's and women's matches were secured on Raw, six days away from Money in the Bank. Here's who will have a chance to snag the coveted briefcase. A view of Money in the Bank 2021 at Dickies Arena on July 18, 2021 Money in the Bank 2025 men's qualifiers Solo Sikoa (defeated Jimmy Uso and Rey Fenix) LA Knight (defeated Aleister Black and Shinsuke Nakamura) Penta (defeated Chad Gable and Dragon Lee) Seth Rollins (defeated Finn Balor and Sami Zayn) Andrade (defeated Jacob Fatu and Carmelo Hayes) El Grande Americano (defeated AJ Styles and CM Punk) Money in the Bank 2025 women's qualifiers Alexa Bliss (defeated Chelsea Green and Michin) Roxanne Perez (defeated Natalya and Becky Lynch) Rhea Ripley (defeated Kairi Sane and Zoey Stark) Giulia (defeated Zelina Vega and Charlotte Flair) Naomi (defeated Jade Cargill and Nia Jax) Stephanie Vaquer (defeated Ivy Nile and Liv Morgan) When is WWE Money in the Bank 2025? Money in the Bank is Saturday, June 7 at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California at 7 p.m. ET (4 p.m. PT). WWE Money in the Bank 2025 match card Match order TBD Men's Money in the Bank match (Solo Sikoa vs. LA Knight vs. Penta vs. Seth Rollins vs. Andrade vs. El Grande Americano) Women's Money in the Bank match (Alexa Bliss vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Giulia vs. Naomi vs. Stephanie Vaquer) John Cena and Logan Paul vs. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso Women's Intercontinental Championship match: Lyra Valkyria (c) vs. Becky Lynch This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: WWE Money in the Bank 2025 qualifiers: Who's in men's, women's matches
Forbes
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
WWE Money In The Bank 2025: Date, Time And How To Watch
Technically, Money in the Bank is not a 'Big 4' premium live event, but those who know understand how big of a role the MITB briefcase plays in the WWE story over the course of the year. This year's version shouldn't be much different. Here's the info you need to watch the event. Money in the Bank 2025 takes place Saturday, July 6, live from the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. This marks the first WWE Premium Live Event hosted at the new venue. The show is set to begin at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT, with a kickoff show scheduled for one hour prior. For U.K. fans, that's a midnight start time. In the U.S., fans will need an active Peacock Premium subscription to stream the show live. In the UK, fans can watch on Netflix. This year's card is already loaded with high-profile matches. The men's and women's Money in the Bank ladder matches feature a blend of main event talent and fast-rising newcomers. For the men, names like Seth Rollins, LA Knight, and Solo Sikoa are already established stars with an imprint in the WWE fabric while Penta and Andrade have an opportunity to take serious steps on the WWE journey. El Grande Americano is the real sleeper as it is clear WWE believes in Chad Gable and they may want to deliver something unexpected with his character. Could he win the MITB but be faced with a dilemma about revealing his true identity? Did El Grande Americano win the MITB or was it Gable? The women's match is equally stacked, with Naomi, Rhea Ripley, Alexa Bliss, Roxanne Perez and standout newcomers Stephanie Vacquer an Giulia all vying for the contract. Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso will team up to face John Cena and Logan Paul in a high-profile tag team match that bridges generational lines. It's a wild blend of legacy, mainstream crossover, and storyline tension with championship implications just under the surface–especially if the winner of the men's MITB tries to cash in on Cena or Uso. Even in a post-WrestleMania world, Money in the Bank has stayed relevant because of its volatility. The contract hanging above the ring is a gimmick that works and helps to shape the careers of stars at different points in their careers. It gave Rollins arguably his defining moment. It elevated Damian Priest last year, though it's seemingly been fumbled since. Perhaps it'll serve as the launch pad for Saturday night's winners.
