WWE RAW: 5 Reasons why Apollo Crews became the brand new United States Champion 

Apollo Crews is your brand new WWE United States Champion
Apollo Crews is your brand new WWE United States Champion

I was personally stoked to see Apollo Crews take on Andrade at the start of RAW because both men are fantastic performers. This is a match that could have gone both ways, based on how both men have been booked over the past month or so.

As one would expect, it was a fantastic match from start to finish but it was the result that astounded us all. Apollo Crews is your brand new United States Champion, unseating Andrade who seems to have held the title forever.

So, why did Vince McMahon choose to put the title on Apollo Crews, a man who has been an integral part of the WWE roster but hasn't really had a chance to step into the spotlight yet? I analyze this question with five compelling arguments and invite you to chime in, in the comments sections below.


#5 From a disappointment to a reward- the Apollo Crews story

Apollo Crews was injured by Andrade and as a result, he had to step out and not compete in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Many people saw that as the end of his push but the more discerning WWE fans realized that there was a lot more in store for this talented young man. Apollo Crews was being groomed for a bigger role and the injury thanks to Andrade was merely a device to get the audience on his side, in due course of time.

And yes, the audience watching at home finally began to cheer for Apollo Crews and root for him. The underdog was built up in a major way and from being someone who was used as enhancement talent, Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman transformed him into a Superstar that the audience cared about.

Way to go, Apollo Crews.

#4 Apollo Crews and his big moment were celebrated by a live crowd

Vince McMahon and Paul Heyman may have borrowed a page or two from AEW but they made sure that there was a big crowd around for Apollo Crews and his crowning moment on the momentous day when he dethroned Andrade and became the United States Champion. What made the occasion special is that this is the first time that such a thing has happened because even WrestleMania did not have a live crowd.

Sure, one can choose to be critical and say that Apollo Crews and his big moment were marred by the fact that it was an idea that WWE chose to lift directly from All Elite Wrestling. But it was a move that just enhanced the show and the moment overall, and I have to say that it just came back at the perfect moment and, in a way, I wish Drew McIntyre had a live crowd just like Apollo Crews did.

Let's just hope that live crowds featuring the current NXT roster become a regular fixture, going forward.

#3 Apollo Crews can elevate heels on both RAW and SmackDown

Thanks to the current brand-to-brand invitational Apollo Crews can defend his US Championship against both members of RAW and SmackDown. Not only can he take on Seth Rollins and members of his stable but he can also go to SmackDown and have a feud with someone like Sheamus or even King Corbin.

One thing to remember is that Angel Garza picked up a massive win against Kevin Owens this week in a match that did not go as per anyone's expectations. Maybe the next big feud will pit Angel Garza against Apollo Crews for the US Championship.

In fact, he could also defend the title against someone like Seth Rollins when the time is right. Working with someone like the Monday Night Messiah will just elevate Apollo Crews to the next level and he could certainly emerge as a breakout star following the big program.

The world is literally the oyster for Apollo Crews and one has to say that it is a well-deserved opportunity considering how talented the man is.

#2 Apollo Crews winning the title allows Andrade to step into the tag team division

So, now that Apollo Crews is the United States Champion, it gives Andrade the freedom to do something else. And by this I mean that he can potentially team up with Angel Garza and step into the tag team division in a better way. Both The Viking Raiders and The Street Profits are babyfaces and they will soon need a formidable team to work with when they are done playing basketball and other sports.

MVP's new tag team has potential but it will be some time before they can be considered serious contenders for the RAW Tag Team Championship. But Apollo Crews has effectively untied Andrade, in a sense, allowing him to realize his potential. Apollo Crews can actually focus on his singles run and Andrade can enter the tag team division for the time being which can be a more exciting restart for him in a sense.

Paul Heyman is ensuring that no Superstar on RAW essentially becomes stale, in this way.

#1 Apollo Crews gave the audience a reason to stay hooked to RAW

Listen, when the audience is convinced that this week's edition of RAW is going to be a filler affair, they may choose to change the channel and watch the show at a later date and time. Apollo Crews winning the title was a great feel-good moment and I'm guessing the objective was to convince the audience that this episode was going to be eventful.

It's very difficult for anyone to devote 3 hours to anything these days because of how busy everyone's life is. It's another matter entirely if it's a movie that one watches once in a while, but when it's a weekly 3-hour program, it may be very difficult for someone to stay tuned throughout RAW.

It's also a testament to the genius of Paul Heyman, who has built Apollo Crews to such a point that his win means a great deal now.

If not for the build, as has been mentioned some time ago, people may not have cared about Apollo Crews winning.

2 more stars coming from AEW to WWE? More details right here