Like his fellow ex-NXT Superstar Baron Corbin, Apollo Crews’ debut run on the main roster hasn’t gone as well as hoped. Crews is a former indie darling and a phenomenal in-ring talent but crowds haven’t really warmed to him yet, especially the casual audience.
How will they when Apollo has only really faced The Social Outcasts and Sheamus since arriving on the main roster?
The Social Outcasts almost always lose so beating them night after night didn’t help Crews in any way and his victory over Sheamus was by a roll up. Cleary, WWE has forgotten how to get new stars over. However there’s still time for WWE to rebuild Apollo Crews on the road to SummerSlam.
Here are 5 booking decisions to get Apollo Crews to the next level by the time SummerSlam rolls along.
#5 Finish off the program with Sheamus with a decisive victory
Apollo Crews has had decent matches with Sheamus following Sheamus brutally attacking him backstage during an episode of Raw. Even though Crews won their Money in the Bank match it didn’t really help him in the eyes of fans because he won by surprising Sheamus with a roll-up.
Even though WWE may be thinking that this win would help Crews while still protecting Sheamus, they are wrong. It didn’t help Apollo Crews and Sheamus doesn’t need protecting, barely anyone cares.
The first thing Apollo needs is a deciding victory over Sheamus on an episode of Raw. With that, he could finally put Sheamus behind and move on.
#4 Crews as a guest on The Highlight Reel
Chris Jericho is one of the top heels in WWE right now and one of the best on the mic around. With that being said Crews could be put in line for a big match at Battleground by him interrupting Chris Jericho during an episode of the Highlight Reel where Jericho could be running down the crowd.
Crews could come out and play the babyface and instead of doing much talking himself, have Jericho talk to the crowd and get him over without exposing too much of Apollo’s weak mic skills. At the end of the segment Crews would clear the ring of Jericho and get over with his in-ring skills.
Chris Jericho has gotten many young stars over through the years and a Highlight Reel segment should get Apollo Crews an opponent at Battleground.
#3 Jericho vs Crews at WWE Battleground: The veteran taking on the newcomer
Apollo Crews needs a big match at WWE Battleground. Although Crews is amazing in the ring, his promo ability is certainly not anywhere near up to scratch yet. Crews needs to face someone with star power, in ring ability and phenomenal mic skills, and who better than the Ayotollah of Rock-n-Rollah, Chris Jericho.
At this point, Jericho is a grizzled veteran who’s there to put over younger stars, and Apollo Crews needs to be put over strong. Jericho can lead Crews to a good match that will help highlight Crews’ strengths rather than his weaknesses and his mic skills would bring the match some genuine heat.
Who knows, maybe some of Jericho’s mic skills might rub off on Apollo too.
#2 A Number one contender’s match for the US title against Alberto Del Rio
After upstaging Chris Jericho at Battleground, the next step for Apollo Crews would be a #1 contender’s match for the US Title against Alberto Del Rio, with the winner facing Rusev at SummerSlam. Alberto Del Rio is a ring general and by this point, a veteran of sorts at the age of 38.
He showed what he’s capable of during the Money in the Bank ladder match and the match between Crews and Del Rio would have a nice face vs heel gimmick and could even main event an episode of Raw on the road to SummerSlam.
The match between the two would be a hard-hitting back and forth affair with Apollo coming out victorious but barely, which would put over both him and his opponent.
#1 Apollo Crews vs Rusev at SummerSlam for the US Title
Rusev vs Apollo Crews at SummerSlam for the U.S Championship should be great. They’re both powerhouses but their styles are different. Crews has an arsenal of high-flying moves to accompany his power while Rusev uses brutal strikes and submissions.
The styles are different enough to come together in a fresh and exciting match up.
Rusev has rediscovered his old self since WrestleMania and will be a formidable opponent for the rising star Apollo Crews. And Apollo going over Rusev at SummerSlam would be a huge deal as it’d be his first title in WWE.
However, even if Apollo loses, he still would have had a big match at SummerSlam and he will be better off for it.
