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Apollo Crews: Brock Lesnar 2.0?

By Michael Whitlow

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Apollo Crews, one of the newer faces on NXT, may compare more to Bobby Lashley, but has the potential of Brock Lesnar.

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The night before SummerSlam, NXT put on one of their best televised events in the brand’s history. NXT: Takeover stole the show for the weekend-long festivities, led by the NXT Women’s Championship match with Sasha Banks and Bayley, along with Finn Balor and Kevin Owens in a ladder match for the NXT title.

Along with the two main event title matches, fans also were able to see the NXT debut of Sesugh Uhaa, better known as Apollo Crews.

In his debut match, Crews defeated Tye Dillinger and looked impressive in the process. Not only did Crews have the look and charisma in the ring, but for a 6’1″, 240-pound man, Crews moved exceptionally well between the ropes.

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Obviously, the first thing you think when you see Crews is, “Goodness. He’s a clone of Bobby Lashley.” Honestly, those were my first words when I saw Crews come through the curtain in Brooklyn. Crews has a fantastic physique and has the look of a future star like Lashley was during his time with WWE.

The thing that separates Crews from Lashley is Crews’ athleticism. He’s a fantastic athlete and moves like a 180-pound performer in the ring, instead of a guy that’s 240 pounds. Lashley was one of the strongest stars I’ve seen, but Crews has the whole nine yards.

When he came between the ropes, the Brooklyn crowd immediately were drawn to the pace of Crews’ match with Dillinger and how Crews can fly, along with using the power game à la Eddie Guerrero and another prospect who quickly jumped off the page early in his career.

This may come off as a complete overreaction after just one match (not including his match on Wednesday night’s NXT that was already taped before Brooklyn), but doesn’t Apollo Crews remind you of a young Brock Lesnar?

When Lesnar made his debut in 2002, he quickly was shot up the ranks. Within in a five-month span after his debut, Lesnar won the King of the Ring Tournament and became WWE Champion, defeating The Rock(!) to win the gold at SummerSlam.

Yeah, I know, Crews isn’t going to alter the universe as we know it and defeat The Undertaker at WrestleMania, or become the most destructive force in WWE history like Lesnar, but I’m sure many have forgotten how great of an athlete Brock Lesnar was before his departure from WWE into UFC.

Not only was Lesnar a freak of nature on the mat, he was an underrated star utilizing the top rope (before the infamous WrestleMania XIX botch vs. Kurt Angle of course).

Crews is a similar type of athlete. If you didn’t see his debut match at NXT: TakeOver, during one spot in the match, Crews drilled Dillinger with a standing moonsault.

You heard me.

Hear me out with Apollo Crews: I’m not saying he’s going to become the most must-see WWE star in a matter of months like Lesnar was. Nobody can be Brock Lesnar. Lesnar’s not a human being. He’s a machine. What I am saying with Crews however is, don’t be surprised if his push comes even quicker than Kevin Owens’ push did, and we know how good he is. Just ask John Cena.

David D. of UPROXX.com wrote a fantastic piece on the rise of black performers in WWE. Apollo Crews is the best chance we’ve seen at the first black WWE Champion outside of The Rock in a long time, and with a rise in black performers like the Prime Time Players, Sasha Banks and the always-hilarious New Day, Crews is coming into the top company in wrestling at a perfect time. (If you haven’t read that piece, do it immediately.)

Plus, when one of the bosses really likes you (specifically, the heir to Vince McMahon’s throne), you’re already off to a great start.

Next: Brock Lesnar's MSG Opponent On Oct. 3 Has Been Announced

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