These days, Kross is writing his own epic, appearing with Scarlett at conventions, performing at independent shows, promoting his book, “Life Is Fighting,” and letting the trail they’re blazing lead them to whatever comes next, naturally. Their story, finally, at this point, is one that Kross seems pleased with. “That’s my favorite version of ‘Moby Dick,’ the one where he didn’t fall for the same story twice,” Kross said. “The one where he preserved his principles because money is f***ing worthless when it’s not attached to principles.”

In his altered version, still considering himself the hero of his own tale, Kross is no longer destined to suffer the same fate as Ahab, who ultimately does harpoon Moby Dick one final time but gets hooked by his own rope and is pulled into the sea, lost forever. “I would rather make less money and preserve my principles,” Kross reasoned, “than to agree that nothing I have done over the last three years means anything and nothing I will do over the next three to five will mean anything either.” At some point, people simply have to know when it’s time to move on in life, lest they get left behind and miss out on opportunities afoot. To that end, Kross is making the most of this new era in his career, avoiding plummeting to the bottom of the sea under the sometimes rocky waters of WWE.

It’s his story, after all, and to Kevin “Killer Kross” Kesar, it’s filled with meaning. “My story—my life story—is not irrelevant.” 

“Pretty good f***ing book.”