WWE News: Apollo Crews Thought Main Roster Call Up Was A Joke

The night after Wrestlemania 32, a raucous crowd packed the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas, for Monday Night Raw, eagerly awaiting what surprises the WWE had in store.

Several superstars from the company’s developmental program NXT were rumored to be making their main roster debut. From then-NXT World Heavyweight champion Finn Balor to Samoa Joe, the fans’ anticipation for fresh faces was clear. However, when recent NXT newcomer Apollo Crews (formerly known as Uhaa Nation on the independent circuit) was announced, it was surprising, to say the least.

Crews, 28, made his in-ring debut with NXT last year with his first match being a victory over Tye Dillinger at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn. After that, he was involved in a feud with fellow NXT-call-up Baron Corbin and wrestled Balor for the NXT championship last October. Still, the news of his call-up came as a surprise.

“I didn’t find out (it was happening) until the Friday before that…. It was April Fools’ (Day). I thought it was a joke,” Crews said to The State Journal-Register to promote tonight’s live event in Springfield, Illinois. “But when it really hit me and I realized what was going on I just started breaking down crying tears of happiness. It was cool for me because I don’t remember the last time I shed a tear of any kind of emotion. So it was cool just to see my dreams come true… It’s the most satisfying feeling ever.”

TONIGHT on @WWE #RAW: @ApolloCrews faces @IAmJericho in a #MITB Qualifying Match LIVE on @USA_Network! pic.twitter.com/LoMy9vAx8s

— WWE (@WWE) May 23, 2016

After defeating Tyler Breeze in his debut bout, Crews has floundered a bit on the main roster. His first minor feud came against the Social Outcasts but was quickly ended after Crews defeated Heath Slater. Several appearances on WWE Main Event later, Crews seems headed for his first major feud on the main roster.

Before his Money in the Bank qualifying match against Chris Jericho this past Monday, Crews was assaulted by a distraught Sheamus. The assault was partially blamed for Crews’ loss to Jericho later on that night. While a feud with Sheamus will give Crews’ character a chance to develop, he’s confident in the success he will enjoy on the main roster.

“I’d love to hold (championship) gold here. I definitely see myself holding multiple titles in my career. As far as short-term goals, I think just being on TV on a weekly basis is amazing. Eventually, hopefully, I can show people more of my character and let them know who I really am as a person. At the end of the day, I just want to make history here. It’s tough to say that because there’s so much history that has been made, but if I can be a part of that, that’s an honor in itself.”

Crews added that he tries to stand out by using an innovative offense that’s motivated from his lifetime of experience as an athlete. From gymnastics to soccer to track to football, Crews’ entire life has revolved around athletics. That’s part of the reason that the 6-foot-1, 240-pound Crews can do standing moonsaults and various other athletic maneuvers.

The desire to be a wrestler dates back to when Crews was young, watching The Undertaker facing The Ultimate Warrior. While there wasn’t a clear path, so Crews decided he would try to create one and pursue the dream of becoming a wrestler.

“For me, these guys seemed larger than life, and they just kind of reached out to me in my house. And ever since that day, I’ve been addicted to it. It wasn’t something I decided at that time to do (as a living), but I think around 10th grade… I was like, ‘I think I can actually make this work. I can actually try this.'”

[Featured Image via WWE]