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Apollo Crews has been on the main roster superstar since 2016. He made his debut on an epic Monday night after WrestleMania, as part of a massive shakeup in the WWE. Apart from a few matches with AJ Styles and a brand deal with Titus Worldwide, not much has happened for the 32-year-old on the main roster. This is a stark contrast to his dominant days in NXT, where he was one of the brand’s main event players.
Sometimes talented wrestlers don’t always get the rub of the green in the pro wrestling world, and Apollo Crews falls under that umbrella. He’s a world-class wrestler that needs one little spark to set him off into stardom. The talent is there, let’s just find the right way to package it.
Here are 5 ways to revive Apollo Crews’ career.
#5 Tag Team run
The recent formation of Dolph Ziggler and Robert Roode has once again reminded us how relevant the tag team scene is. Also, it’s shown us how an unlikely pairing can do wonders for the careers of individuals. Apollo Crews needs some of that magic. The American born Superstar is the perfect candidate to be placed in a competent tag team.
In such a setting, Crews could continue to showcase his exceptional wrestling ability, without the pressure of having to maintain a character he’s not comfortable with. It gives him the freedom to do what he does best, wrestling.
Imagine Crews being paired with likeable babyface in Mustafa Ali or Cedric Alexander, two wrestlers the fans are already fond of. Automatically, some of that likeability would crossover to Crews, giving him much needed personality and backing from the WWE Universe.
#4 Heel turn
The great thing about pro wrestling is that there are so many different avenues to be entertaining. Not everyone has to be the generic good guy like Hulk Hogan or John Cena as there are always other ways to connect with the fans. A connection doesn’t necessarily have to be a positive reaction, it could be a connection in which a chord of annoyance is struck. So far, Crews’ babyface run has not produced the desired results, so why not turn him heel?
Completely go against the grain in what the WWE Universe are used to seeing from the 32-year-old. He has the physique and ability to be a dominant heel that destroys his opponents in devastating fashion. Alternatively, we could see him go the cheating and sniveling route in which he has to rely on dubious means to score any type of victory.
#3 New Nexus?
Dominant heel factions have always gone down well in the WWE. From the Nation of Domination to the NWO all the way to the Nexus. These groups have entertained us thoroughly and created moments to last a lifetime. We need another one in 2019. I’m not talking about pairs or heel trios, we need a whole new faction to run Monday or Friday nights. Many a young upstart wrestler has gone onto become a household name due to their involvements in factions, case in point — The Rock and Batista.
Spearheaded by perhaps a Drew McIntyre or Samoa Joe, this faction would need to include Apollo Crews, thus giving him relevancy and much-needed TV time. In a faction, Crews’ personality wouldn’t have to shine, thus allowing the focus to be on his wrestling ability. Through this, he could gain momentum and heat by default, thus allowing him to proceed on an individual path in the future.
#2 Back to NXT
Gone are the days where we can see NXT as just a developmental program. It is now the WWE’s third touring brand in its own right. Triple H’s group of hungry Superstars have now secured themselves a weekly show on the USA Network — that’s what you call a power move.
The suggestion that Apollo Crews goes back to NXT is not a demotion, it’s an opportunity to once again find himself. The talent is clearly there, but when one’s character is being neglected, a rebranding is perhaps the best way forward.
Back in NXT, Crews would have the watchful eyes of Triple H to help him regain confidence. Hunter has molded the career of many of WWE’s main event Superstars today and he could do the same with Apollo Crews again.
#1 Underdog story
There’s nothing the WWE Universe loves more than an underdog story. These types of storylines have created some of the greatest moments in television history. Most notably, Daniel Bryan’s ascendency to the main event of WrestleMania 30 was the perfect example of the fans getting behind an unlikely underdog that doesn’t fit the mold of the stereotypical macho babyface.
Even in more recent times, Chad Gable’s flight to the final of King of the Ring gained a lot of support, with fans getting sucked into the underdog complex. Apollo Crews needs that type of moment. Someone in the back needs to take a chance on him and let the underdog complex take control. Crews’ naturally nice personality would see him through as a believable and likeable person to get behind. All he needs is a championship run, perhaps first starting with the heel Intercontinental Champion, Shinsuke Nakamura.
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