Why it’s time for an Apollo Crews Universal Championship or WWE Title run

With the WWE Draft coming up next Friday, it’s up in the air as to where so many of the WWE Superstars are likely to end up, but one thing remains quite clear to me: It’s undoubtedly time for an Apollo Crews WWE or Universal title run. Let’s take a look at some major reasons why.

A look at his rise in the industry

The Sacramento, California native fell in love with professional wrestling after watching the likes of Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and Olympic Gold Medalist, Kurt Angle compete in a WWE ring. As far as idols go, he sure knew how to pick them, all three men at the top of the game and legends of course.

He attended military school and it was there that his athletic prowess developed further than where it was and this led to him to be named Uhaa Nation (his birth name being Sesugh Uhaa Mumba), and all because his coach told him specifically, that he was “as strong as a single nation.”

It was after college and when Apollo was 21 that he started his professional wrestling journey by learning under Curtis Hughes (WCW, WWF).

This experience led him to work for such promotions as Dragon Gate, Full Impact Pro, Preston City Wrestling, Great Championship Wrestling, and finally to the doors of WWE.

It was in 2014…only three years after starting in the business, that he tried out for WWE and was offered a developmental deal.

His rise in NXT has been well documented and truthfully, in my opinion, he had one of the more impressive runs with the developmental brand, a run that is far too often overlooked.

And no, he wasn’t decorated in gold over there, but he had a bunch of epic matches that I often go back and watch.

This brings us to his main roster push and the work he’s done since moving up. As far as work is concerned, the man has put it in and then some…as far as the accolades he should have earned because of that work, he only has two title runs, unfortunately…the United States Championship and most recently, the Intercontinental Championship.

His 2021 character change

Anyone who has followed his career knows that he doesn’t speak with an accent, but WWE Creative decided to give him one, and epic talent that he is, he ran with it.

He’s playing the part of Nigerian Prince (he is actually of Nigerian descent on both his parent’s sides), and the addition of Commander Azeez just adds to the dynamics of his character.

I’ve said this before, but I love the character, and it would have been epic to see even in the Golden Era of wrestling in WWE. I totally see him battling epic stars of that era like early Bret Hart, Bulldog, and as a face, perhaps even The Mountie (Jacques Rougeau). Of course, this is just a wee bit of fantasy warfare, but I can dream, can’t I?

His run as Intercontinental Champion

It was too brief. He won the championship at WrestleMania 37, defeating Big E. Big E has since moved on to the WWE Championship and we hope that’s a precedent for Apollo’s direction moving forward, as Big E won the Money In The Bank Ladder Match at this year’s event, and perhaps that’s where it can go for Apollo. He definitely deserves it.

It was in April of this year that Apollo commented on his winning the IC Title and how difficult his rise had been, via sportskeeda.com:

"“That is just the competitor inside me. That’s just the spirit inside me. Just relentless, you know? I want to keep growing. I want to make this title reign one of the best in WWE history. I want to make it a long and historic title reign, and I’m accepting all challengers. It does not matter who you are. I will fight anybody. I will bring the fight to anybody; just like I expect them to bring it to me. A lot of respect goes to Big E, because he brought that fight. He brought something out of me and I know I brought something out to him that he never knew was there.”"

Apollo lost the title to Shinsuke Nakamura and lost his rematch to boot, and I hope what comes next is championship gold.

Possibilities for this epic talent

Epic talent for real! We need to see what happens with the draft, but I think a great way for this to go down would be for Apollo to be drafted to Raw, thus going after the WWE title, either against Big E or whoever is holding it.

The Universal Championship is proving to be too elusive, perhaps being reserved for Brock Lesnar at the moment. That is unless he is being brought back only to further make Roman Reigns…ultimately cementing Reign’s legacy. That remains to be seen.

I kind of feel that Drew McIntyre should get the championship back first (that would make 3 title runs for him), and then Apollo could subsequently face him.

Now, how’s that for a WrestleMania match oozing in classic gimmick and epic athleticism? (Talk about “the showcase of the immortals.”)

Apollo Crews “The Nigerian Prince,” vs. “The Scottish Warrior,” Drew McIntyre. Has a pretty nice ring to it.