WWE’s Karrion Kross pulled back the curtain on his creative process, revealing how a legendary mixed martial arts documentary from over two decades ago became the blueprint for his personal WrestleMania 41 project. The revelation showcases how combat sports storytelling continues to influence modern wrestling presentation.
The Smashing Machine Connection
During his appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” Kross opened up about the documentary inspiration that drove his recent YouTube release. The WWE superstar pointed to “The Smashing Machine: The Life and Times of Extreme Fighter Mark Kerr” as his creative north star.
Released in 2002, the acclaimed MMA documentary chronicled the rise and struggles of heavyweight fighter Mark Kerr. Kross explained how this particular piece of combat sports filmmaking left a lasting impression on his approach to storytelling.
“That was more or less inspired by Smashing Machine, which now, you know, Mark Kerr has his move,” Kross revealed during the interview.
Four Years in the Making
The documentary wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision for the former NXT Champion. Kross disclosed that he had been plotting this project since WWE first brought him into the fold back in 2020.
His vision became crystal clear when he learned WrestleMania would finally make its way to Las Vegas. Living in Sin City at the time, Kross recognized the perfect storm of circumstances aligning for his passion project.
“I was always going to do it. That was my plan. Like, right when I got hired by WWE in 2020, I said, ‘One day this show will be in Las Vegas and hopefully one day they hold a Mania there,'” Kross explained.
Vegas Timing and Economic Considerations
The WWE star’s foresight proved remarkable, considering his early uncertainty about Las Vegas hosting wrestling’s biggest event. He admitted questioning whether the city’s economy could handle a WrestleMania-sized production during his residency there.
Kross watched Vegas expand and evolve, eventually becoming confident the entertainment capital could support WWE’s grandest spectacle. His patience paid off when WWE announced WrestleMania 41 would call Las Vegas home.
Universal Messages and Serendipity
The documentary’s creation involved what Kross describes as cosmic timing and repeated signs. His philosophical approach to recognizing patterns emerged as a driving force behind the project’s development.
“Things just kind of serendipitously happened in a weird way. I feel like I get messages from the universe to pay attention to. Like, if I hear the same thing over and over and over from different people that don’t know each other, I feel like I should be paying attention to that,” he shared.
The Davin Tong Collaboration
Actor Davin Tong’s outreach proved to be the final piece of Kross’s documentary puzzle. When Tong approached him about collaboration, the WWE performer interpreted it as destiny calling.
This partnership transformed Kross’s long-held vision into reality, bringing professional production value to his personal WrestleMania weekend story.
Fan Reception and Future Implications
Since dropping on his YouTube channel, the documentary has garnered positive responses from wrestling enthusiasts. Kross expressed satisfaction with both the final product and the audience reaction it generated.
The project represents a growing trend of wrestlers taking creative control over their narratives outside traditional WWE programming. By drawing inspiration from legitimate combat sports documentaries, Kross elevated his content beyond typical wrestling vlogs.
With WrestleMania 41 still months away, Kross has set an intriguing precedent for behind-the-scenes wrestling storytelling. Will other WWE superstars follow his lead and create their own documentary-style content inspired by combat sports classics?
