Whenever a superstar gets lost in the shuffle, a major switch in direction is always needed. At this moment in time, Crews isn't even getting air time on SmackDown. You know it's bad for a wrestler when he's not even being jobbed out on TV anymore, he's just invisible & irrelevant.
When Apollo Crews joined the main roster the night after Wrestlemania, big things were expected of the NXT graduate. He was expected to become a main event worthy talent. With the brand split, many thought this would give the 29-year old even more time to shine.
However, in typical WWE fashion, a talented wrestler has been forgotten about and cast to the side. Here are five ways I think the WWE could revive the character of Apollo Crews.
#1 Heel Turn:
Crews needs to give the audience a reason to stay interested in him. A man with an astonishing physique like Crews could stand toe to toe with any superstar in the WWE today.
He has the looks and presence; the WWE just haven't given him the persona to match. Crews would be amazing as a dominant heel; his gimmick could revolve around him bullying and victimising smaller superstars. Make him unlikeable by having him dominate the most beloved babyfaces on the roster.
Make him abruptly interrupt great matches, garner heat and then translate it into long-term feuds.
Imagine how physical a Crews vs. Ambrose feud would be. Now imagine, how intense it would be, if Crews had no intention of actually wrestling Ambrose, just beating him up at every opportunity. There'd be no time for comedy or long promos, just all out action. Turn this man heel and give him a personality to be feared.
#2 Join a Faction:
WWE got seven unknown wrestlers over, in 2010 with the Nexus, they can get current wrestlers on the roster over using the same technique. He doesn't necessarily have to be the leader or talker of the group; he just needs to be part of the destruction.
Have them make an impact, let them destroy a title match, the same way the Shield debuted in 2012. The presentation of a new gimmick is everything and so is the introduction, if the first impression isn't impactful, the rest of the run will fall flat.
SmackDown lacks a truly dominant team, in a group of five. Have this hypothetical stable win the tag titles and have one win the IC title. Give them the gold and give them the correct storyline, and Apollo will thrive at the centre of it all.
#3 Let him wrestle every week:
Who remembers the match Crews & Styles had on Smackdown two months ago?
They tore the house down, and the WWE Universe were given the privilege of witnessing Apollo's amazing athletic ability. If you ever watched NXT last year, you would have seen Crews dominating the card and stealing the show night after night.
Crews is one of the best wrestlers on the roster, and in an age where entertainment is more important; it's time for Crews to bring wrestling back. Let's turn Crews into a throwback, let his gimmick be the guy, who has the best match of the night every week.
He doesn't necessarily have to be in a feud, he could just be seen as the measuring stick of SmackDown, have him wrestle the top guys week in week out and push them to their limits. It could almost be like an Apollo Crews open challenge.
Let him steal the show and overshadow the main event, thus making him the main event.
#4 Let him join the Tag Team Divison:
At the moment it's all about giving Crews as much exposure as possible, him being in a tag team gets a foot in the door. Pair him with an unlikely partner like Curt Hawkins. The same way an unconventional pair like Rhyno & Heath Slater got over, Crews & Hawkins could be the next big thing.
Nowadays, if you put on good matches and have a chant that is easy to understand, you get over. Apollo in a tag team would have no chance of being overexposed. Instead, the spotlight would be evenly shared by the pair.
Tag teams provide interesting dynamics because their numerical advantage allows them to perform moves that we don't see week in week out. Also, if one botches a move, the other could cover for them. Being in a tag team protects Apollo as he doesn't have to talk every week or wrestle every minute of a match.
#5 Give him an Identity:
Every time we've seen Apollo on TV, the WWE have never given him any indication of a personality. The most memorable moment he's had thus far, was when Daniel Bryan got his name wrong. The WWE haven't allowed Apollo to talk or give a meaningful promo, he needs some kind of personality. A personality that the fans can relate to.
Let him talk about how his father was born in Nigeria and travelled to the USA, to pursue the American Dream. Now he's living his father's wishes and upholding the family name. Letting the audience know this, would make him an underdog in their eyes and incline them to root for him.
Right now he's just the guy who has a forgettable name; it's time for that to change. Many always complain that there aren't enough stars in the WWE today, but when you have talented wrestlers like Apollo not being used, you can only point the finger at Vince.
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