#5 Apollo Crews as Jon Jones
While WWE has tried all sorts of characters over the years, one of the few it has never truly nailed down is that of the talented, but unlikeable and entitled super-athlete. They tried it with MVP a few years back but it never really caught on as well as it could have.
UFC meanwhile has the perfect example of this character in Jon Jones. Even before all of his recent legal issues and positive PED tests, he was a thoroughly unlikeable fighter. Why, exactly?
A lot of people would tell you it’s a racial thing but I don’t buy that. After all, when Jones rose to the top of the sport, two of the UFC’s most popular stars in Rampage Jackson and Anderson Silva were black.
For me, Jones was – and is – unlikeable due to his sense of entitlement. It’s the feeling that he gives off that he thinks he deserves his success because he works harder than anyone else, and it has nothing to do with his natural physical gifts.
When he first broke into the UFC rankings, though? Jones was a smiley figure who didn’t have a lot to say really. Nothing like a Conor McGregor or a Michael Bisping, Jones largely flew under the radar because he didn’t talk much trash back then.
It was only when he started destroying all of his opponents that people started to sit up and take notice.
By the time he won the UFC’s Light Heavyweight title, a lot of observers expected him to take off as a beloved Superstar but that wasn’t the case, instead, he became one of the most hated men in the sport due to his attitude.
WWE wouldn’t have to try hard to replicate the character of Jon Jones. However, they’d be best to avoid the drug and legal issues.
All they’d need to do is push Apollo Crews a little harder, have him run through all of his opponents using his natural talent, but with each added win, have him become a little more confident. Confident until it turns to arrogance.
Next, have Crews act like he’s the most beloved star in the game, all while acting like an entitled, arrogant heel. He’s a great athlete and damn it he knows it, but it all comes from hard work, really!
Right now Crews is floundering due to a lack of personality but it isn’t like it’s too late to save him. He’s talented enough to carry this off, I’m sure. All it would take is a little work and WWE could have its very own Jon Jones.
How do you think these characters would work in WWE? Let me know.
Until next time.....
Send us news tips at [email protected]
Do you love to play crosswords, Wordle or other exciting games? We'd like to connect with you. Fill the form here!
