Apollo Crews reflects on his return to WWE NXT.
After a six-year run on WWE’s main roster, Apollo Crews returned to NXT in June to change things up. He was one year removed from holding the Intercontinental Championship for the first time, and there simply wasn’t anything for him creatively on RAW and SmackDown. Crews explained how the process unfolded to Ryan Satin during a recent appearance on Out of Character with Ryan Satin.
“I lost the Intercontinental title to Shinsuke [Nakamura] on a SmackDown, and I think even before that, it was not really anything. I hadn’t been on a premium live event since I won the title at WrestleMania. So [I] drop the title and then I was just doing matches on Main Event, which when I go out there, I’m gonna go give 110 percent, but at the same time, I didn’t come here to be wrestling on Main Event every week.”
Crews shared that he wanted to be on the primary shows and the premium live events, but every time he asked questions, it was never about his performance. He felt he was consistent in all aspects of his performance and didn’t want to settle for just competing on Main Event every week.
“I want to be one of the guys that’s a household name, so it wasn’t coming. So I made an approach and asked if there was spot down here essentially for me at NXT, and the opportunity came about, and there happened to be a spot available,” Crews said. “I was 100 percent for it, and it was one of those things where it’s like, ‘Is it long-term or is it going to short-term?’ and for me, it doesn’t matter. I’m going to control what I can control. You give me this opportunity, I’m going to come out here and kill it.”
Crews returned on the June 7 episode of NXT and began mixing it up with the likes of Carmelo Hayes, Grayson Waller, and Xyon Quinn right off the bat. He also admitted that his second NXT run has allowed him to work on the things that weren’t as developed during his first stint with NXT throughout 2015-16.
“Now we’re gonna work on what maybe should’ve been done the first time, which when I originally got to NXT and was first signed, I think the time I got to spend at NXT was just way too short,” Crews admitted. “I don’t think I had enough development as a character, as a TV person. I just wasn’t developed enough.”
The former WWE United States Champion recalled Triple H informing him of his call-up after NXT TakeOver: Dallas in 2016. From there, things moved quickly as he debuted on RAW just two nights later. Fast-forward to 2022, and Crews is back in NXT, where he’s grateful for the opportunity to grow and work with young talent. He also noted that, when the time is right, he’s hopeful he’ll return to RAW or SmackDown.
“So, again, just being blessed with this opportunity to come down and help myself while helping other young talent as well, it’s a blessing, it’s an honor,” he said. “I’m gonna take full advantage of this, which I feel like I’ve done these last six months already. Then whenever the time is right, whenever that decision is made, we can hopefully get back to Raw, SmackDown, get on premium live events.”
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