He’s known around the world as Karrion Kross—WWE superstar, actor, martial artist, and producer. But behind the intensity is Kevin Robert Kesar, a man with a story far deeper than what you see on TV.
In this powerful episode, we dive into his new book Life Is Fighting, out August 5th. Kross pulls back the curtain on the grind, the pain, and the personal growth it took to rise through the chaos of professional wrestling and life itself. From locker rooms to loss, fame to faith, this is a raw, honest look into the mindset of a man who’s battled through more than just opponents.
🎧 Listen in as we explore the fight behind the fight—and meet the mind behind the monster.
Get the book: https://a.co/d/dxUSJiU
Follow Karrion Kross:
X & IG – @realkillerkross
YouTube – YouTube.com/@KillerKrossChannel
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.
In this powerful episode, we dive into his new book Life Is Fighting, out August 5th. Kross pulls back the curtain on the grind, the pain, and the personal growth it took to rise through the chaos of professional wrestling and life itself. From locker rooms to loss, fame to faith, this is a raw, honest look into the mindset of a man who’s battled through more than just opponents.
🎧 Listen in as we explore the fight behind the fight—and meet the mind behind the monster.
Get the book: https://a.co/d/dxUSJiU
Follow Karrion Kross:
X & IG – @realkillerkross
YouTube – YouTube.com/@KillerKrossChannel
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/i-am-refocused-radio--2671113/support.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
You are listening to I Am Refocused Radio with your
host Shamaiah Reid. This show is designed to inspire you
to live your purpose and regain your focus. And now
here's your host, Shamaiah Reid.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hey, welcome talking we focus Ready once again, we are
here today and today we have a true true element.
We have a powerhouse guest. Today we have one of
the only WWE superstar carrying cross and he has a
new book that's coming out August fifth, Life is Fighting
first and foremost. Sir, you are well known, You're doing
big things, have been doing big things. One say, thank
(00:40):
you so much for making time this morning. How you're doing, sir,
I'm doing really good. Thanks for having me on the show. Yes, sir, man,
let's talk about this amazing book, Life is Fighting. Where
you came up with that title? How does that statement
reflect in your own life journey beyond the ring.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
So, the very first time I ever heard that quote
was from a guy named Henzel. Gracie's a very famous
jiu jitsu family. I've been studying jiu jitsu for a
long time and catch wrestling and a lot of different
grappling arts, and essentially, how I would say that relates
to my story in my book is the idea of
a fighter is kind of romanticized through the aesthetic of
(01:15):
what you see on TV boxers, MMA, kickboxers, even pro wrestlers.
I wanted to kind of shed light on redefining what
that is so people don't feel like they have to
look like that to be a fighter. I think getting
up every single day is a fight, especially as you
get older. You know, once you get out on your
own and you know you have your rent and you
(01:36):
have your family, and you've got to go to a
contentious work environment to pay your bills, that is fighting.
And I think that there's some pride and some integrity
and some self love that people can find in their
own struggles and overcoming them.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Your fans are worldwide and they get to see the superstar,
but in this book, you pull back the curtains. Was
one thing that you hope that your fans will appreciate
you about your story.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
My honesty, because my life is not pretty and it
has not been perfect, just like everybody else. And I
think writing a book and pretending like it is is
a spit in the face to people. And I didn't
do that, and I've never appreciated when I've read a
book and I know part of what the real story
is and it's not in the book.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Again, we're talking to WWE superstar carrying across all about
his book coming out August fifth, Life is Fighting Man.
You're not just known being a superstar with WWE, you
also a producer, actor, martial artist. Having all that on
your playbook, how do you handle that way of success
and when it comes to resilience with some things that
(02:38):
you learned about yourself.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
It sounds kind of dark, but again, the theme is honesty,
So I'll be honest. I think about all the people
that are no longer in my life right now, what
passed on, and I think about what they would want
me to be doing with this moment at this very second.
If I lose sight of what I'm supposed to be
doing and I'm not motivated or I don't necessarily have
the discipline of the moment to do something, I think
(03:00):
about people watching me from upstairs that would be disappointed.
And then I get myself in gear.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, you're not in the spotlight beyond the scenes. What
does it look like when you're just trying to have
some me time? How do you keep that balance from
the professional spotlight to making sure you have well being.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I go and look for a really nice meal somewhere quiet,
and that's it. It's real boring, but just the quiet,
the silence, the decompression, that's what works for me. Or
I just go and spend time with family that know
me as Kevin and and don't even watch me on
TV on Mondays because they don't like wrestling. I just
get to be me. I don't have to walk in
there with with the costume on, so to speak. You know,
(03:43):
when you.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Think about your legacy in purpose, beyond the titles and
the signature moves, what do you want your legacy to
be and why?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I don't know really how to kind of encompass what
that is at this point right now, because I don't
know who I'm going to be in ten years and
I'm cognitive of that. Like who I am right now
as I'm talking to you, Man, this is not who
I was ten years ago. And I'm glad that i'm
this person right now because I could have been somebody
entirely different, somebody really bad. I'm not a perfect person,
(04:16):
and I've made mistakes in life, but I do believe
that there is an art and a grace in recovery.
I just hope that my legacy is something that encompasses
not having a perfect hand and still winning a few games.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
A lot of people know that fans are super passionate
and they will not hide their emotions. But you, when
you think about how you fought and earn your place
in this world, someone out there listening is going to
be like, Wow, I want to change my dreams too.
Maybe it's not for a championship, but what in your
own words will you tell that person to chase their dream.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Don't look for anybody to come around and tell you
that you're good enough, because you might be waiting a
really long time, and in fact, you actually could be
good enough right now. Or you can get good enough
on your own without needing somebody's consent to go get
what you want. And it's not going to happen overnight,
and it's going to be hard, and it's going to
be miserable. There's going to be stuff you're going to
(05:14):
go through that you're not going to tell anybody about
and nobody's gonna care. But you've got to find that
self love to go after what you want in life
and do it for as long as you have to.
It might take a year, it could take ten years.
But that is a secret to life. Everybody's got it
in them, they just got to find it. And that's
the truth.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Once again true. Broonie talking to the one and only
WWE superstar Carry and Cross all about his book coming
out August fifth, Life is Fighting, Sir. I want to
say to you man, thank you for your time. I
know you super Swamp. You are awesome and I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Thanks for having me on
You are listening to I Am Refocused Radio with your
host Shamaiah Reid. This show is designed to inspire you
to live your purpose and regain your focus. And now
here's your host, Shamaiah Reid.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
Hey, welcome talking we focus Ready once again, we are
here today and today we have a true true element.
We have a powerhouse guest. Today we have one of
the only WWE superstar carrying cross and he has a
new book that's coming out August fifth, Life is Fighting
first and foremost. Sir, you are well known, You're doing
big things, have been doing big things. One say, thank
(00:40):
you so much for making time this morning. How you're doing, sir,
I'm doing really good. Thanks for having me on the show. Yes, sir, man,
let's talk about this amazing book, Life is Fighting. Where
you came up with that title? How does that statement
reflect in your own life journey beyond the ring.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
So, the very first time I ever heard that quote
was from a guy named Henzel. Gracie's a very famous
jiu jitsu family. I've been studying jiu jitsu for a
long time and catch wrestling and a lot of different
grappling arts, and essentially, how I would say that relates
to my story in my book is the idea of
a fighter is kind of romanticized through the aesthetic of
(01:15):
what you see on TV boxers, MMA, kickboxers, even pro wrestlers.
I wanted to kind of shed light on redefining what
that is so people don't feel like they have to
look like that to be a fighter. I think getting
up every single day is a fight, especially as you
get older. You know, once you get out on your
own and you know you have your rent and you
(01:36):
have your family, and you've got to go to a
contentious work environment to pay your bills, that is fighting.
And I think that there's some pride and some integrity
and some self love that people can find in their
own struggles and overcoming them.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
Your fans are worldwide and they get to see the superstar,
but in this book, you pull back the curtains. Was
one thing that you hope that your fans will appreciate
you about your story.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
My honesty, because my life is not pretty and it
has not been perfect, just like everybody else. And I
think writing a book and pretending like it is is
a spit in the face to people. And I didn't
do that, and I've never appreciated when I've read a
book and I know part of what the real story
is and it's not in the book.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Again, we're talking to WWE superstar carrying across all about
his book coming out August fifth, Life is Fighting Man.
You're not just known being a superstar with WWE, you
also a producer, actor, martial artist. Having all that on
your playbook, how do you handle that way of success
and when it comes to resilience with some things that
(02:38):
you learned about yourself.
Speaker 3 (02:40):
It sounds kind of dark, but again, the theme is honesty,
So I'll be honest. I think about all the people
that are no longer in my life right now, what
passed on, and I think about what they would want
me to be doing with this moment at this very second.
If I lose sight of what I'm supposed to be
doing and I'm not motivated or I don't necessarily have
the discipline of the moment to do something, I think
(03:00):
about people watching me from upstairs that would be disappointed.
And then I get myself in gear.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Well, you're not in the spotlight beyond the scenes. What
does it look like when you're just trying to have
some me time? How do you keep that balance from
the professional spotlight to making sure you have well being.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
I go and look for a really nice meal somewhere quiet,
and that's it. It's real boring, but just the quiet,
the silence, the decompression, that's what works for me. Or
I just go and spend time with family that know
me as Kevin and and don't even watch me on
TV on Mondays because they don't like wrestling. I just
get to be me. I don't have to walk in
there with with the costume on, so to speak. You know,
(03:43):
when you.
Speaker 2 (03:43):
Think about your legacy in purpose, beyond the titles and
the signature moves, what do you want your legacy to
be and why?
Speaker 3 (03:54):
I don't know really how to kind of encompass what
that is at this point right now, because I don't
know who I'm going to be in ten years and
I'm cognitive of that. Like who I am right now
as I'm talking to you, Man, this is not who
I was ten years ago. And I'm glad that i'm
this person right now because I could have been somebody
entirely different, somebody really bad. I'm not a perfect person,
(04:16):
and I've made mistakes in life, but I do believe
that there is an art and a grace in recovery.
I just hope that my legacy is something that encompasses
not having a perfect hand and still winning a few games.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
A lot of people know that fans are super passionate
and they will not hide their emotions. But you, when
you think about how you fought and earn your place
in this world, someone out there listening is going to
be like, Wow, I want to change my dreams too.
Maybe it's not for a championship, but what in your
own words will you tell that person to chase their dream.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
Don't look for anybody to come around and tell you
that you're good enough, because you might be waiting a
really long time, and in fact, you actually could be
good enough right now. Or you can get good enough
on your own without needing somebody's consent to go get
what you want. And it's not going to happen overnight,
and it's going to be hard, and it's going to
be miserable. There's going to be stuff you're going to
(05:14):
go through that you're not going to tell anybody about
and nobody's gonna care. But you've got to find that
self love to go after what you want in life
and do it for as long as you have to.
It might take a year, it could take ten years.
But that is a secret to life. Everybody's got it
in them, they just got to find it. And that's
the truth.
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Once again true. Broonie talking to the one and only
WWE superstar Carry and Cross all about his book coming
out August fifth, Life is Fighting, Sir. I want to
say to you man, thank you for your time. I
know you super Swamp. You are awesome and I appreciate that.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
Thanks for having me on
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