Uhaa started his career in 2009, first working under the ring nameUhaa Nation,[3] and made his breakthrough in 2011, when he was signed by theDragon Gate USApromotion, which also led to him making his first trip to Japan to work forDragon Gate.
After leaving college in 2008, Uhaa quickly got a job in order to pay for his professional wrestling training.[10] He began training at the age of 21 underMr. Hughes at his World Wrestling Alliance 4 (WWA4) promotion's training school in Atlanta.[3][10] After making his wrestling debut under thering name "Uhaa Nation" (a nickname given to him during high school) on August 17, 2009,[5] he spent over a year working mainly for small promotions on the Georgianindependent circuit, but also made trips toHouston,Texas-basedPro Wrestling Alliance (PWA) andPhenix City, Alabama-based Great Championship Wrestling (GCW),[5][13] often working with fellow WWA4 traineeAR Fox.[14]
On September 9, 2011, Uhaa took part in a tryout seminar held by theDragon Gate USA promotion.[3] He was immediately signed for appearances for not only Dragon Gate USA, but also its parent promotion, Dragon Gate, and close affiliatesEvolve andFull Impact Pro (FIP).[3] He made his wrestling debut for Dragon Gate USA later that same day, defeating Aaron Draven in asquash match.[15] Uhaa made hispay-per-view debut the following day atUntouchable 2011, where he answeredBrodie Lee's open challenge and dominated him, before Lee left the ringside area.[16] The following day at Way of the Ronin, Uhaa defeated Facade, Flip Kendrick and Sugar Dunkerton in a four-way match.[17] On October 29, Uhaa made his first appearance for Full Impact Pro, when he defeated Jake Manning for FIP Florida Heritage Championship.[18] Uhaa then entered a storyline, where different Dragon Gate USAstables tried to recruit him to join them.[19] On November 30, Uhaa made his Japanese debut for Dragon Gate, during an event produced by thevillainous Blood Warriors stable. Uhaa defeated Kotoka in a match that lasted 99 seconds, establishing himself as the newest member of Blood Warriors in the process.[20] For the rest of the tour, which lasted through December 25, Uhaa worked alongside the Blood Warriors stable, winning every one of his matches.[21][22] At the end of 2011, Dragon Gate USA named Uhaa the Best Newcomer of the year.[3] He also finished second behindDaichi Hashimoto inWrestling Observer Newsletter's award category forRookie of the Year.[23]
Upon his return to the United States, Uhaa made his debut for Evolve on January 14, 2012, with a win over Pinkie Sanchez.[24] WhenAkira Tozawa took over the leadership of Blood Warriors fromCima and renamed the groupMad Blankey, Uhaa Nation followed along to the renamed stable.[3] Uhaa made his first appearance representing Mad Blankey at a DGUSA event on March 29, when he and stablemates Akira Tozawa andBxB Hulk defeated Ronin (Chuck Taylor,Johnny Gargano andRich Swann) and D.U.F. (Arik Cannon, Pinkie Sanchez, andSami Callihan) in a three-way trios match.[25] However, during the match, Uhaa suffered a knee injury, which sidelined him for a year.[26] Uhaa returned to the ring on February 1, 2013, at Full Impact Pro's Everything Burns iPPV, where he successfully defended the FIP Florida Heritage Championship against Chasyn Rance.[27] On March 2, Uhaa returned to Japan and Dragon Gate, when he and BxB Hulk defeatedDon Fujii andMasaaki Mochizuki for theOpen the Twin Gate Championship.[28] They lost the title toShingo Takagi andYamato on May 5.[29] On May 11, Uhaa was pinned for the first time in a Dragon Gate ring, when he was eliminated byJimmy Susumu in the first round of the2013 King of Gate tournament.[30] On July 28 at Enter the Dragon 2013, Dragon Gate USA's fourth anniversary event, Uhaa suffered his first pinfall loss in the promotion, when he was defeated byAnthony Nese.[31] On August 9, Uhaa lost the FIP Florida Heritage Championship toGran Akuma.[32] Back in Dragon Gate, Mad Blankey turned on Uhaa Nation on August 30, after he refused to wrestle Akira Tozawa, who had recently been kicked out of the group. Uhaa then formed a new partnership with Tozawa and Shingo Takagi.[33] On September 12, the three were joined byMasato Yoshino,Ricochet, and Shachihoko Boy to form a new stable,[34] which was on October 6 named Monster Express.[35] On January 12, 2014, Uhaa received his first shot at Dragon Gate USA's top title, theOpen the Freedom Gate Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Johnny Gargano.[36] On March 6, Uhaa also received his first shot at Dragon Gate's top title, theOpen the Dream Gate Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Monster Express stablemate Ricochet.[37] On May 23, it was reported that Uhaa had signed a new contract with Dragon Gate USA.[38]
On February 5, 2015, Uhaa made his return to Dragon Gate as Akira Tozawa's surprise partner in a tag team match, where they defeatedCyber Kong and Don Fujii.[39] On March 1, Uhaa failed to win the Open the Dream Gate Championship from BxB Hulk in his final match for Dragon Gate.[40] Uhaa worked his final Evolve events later that month duringWWNLive'sWrestleMania week.[10][41]
In October 2014, Uhaa took part in aWWE tryout camp, resulting in adevelopmental contract offer.[9][42] Starting on December 31, 2014, multiple sources reported that Uhaa had come to terms on a contract with WWE.[7][43] Uhaa reported to theWWE Performance Center, the home of itsNXT developmental brand, on April 6, 2015.[44] WWE officially announced Uhaa as part of a new class of NXT recruits in an April 13 press release.[8] Uhaa made his first televised appearance on the May 6 episode ofNXT, signing an NXT contract in a segment withWilliam Regal.[45] Uhaa started working NXThouse shows the following month, retaining the Uhaa Nation ring name.[46][47][48]
Crews before a match in April 2016
On August 5, it was announced that Uhaa, under the new ring name "Apollo Crews", would make his televised NXT in-ring debut on August 22 atNXT TakeOver: Brooklyn,[49] where he defeatedTye Dillinger, establishing himself as aface.[50] Crews made hisNXT debut on September 2, defeatingMartin Stone.[51] AtNXT TakeOver: Respect on October 7, Crews defeatedTyler Breeze.[52] On the October 14 episode ofNXT, Crews won abattle royal to become the number one contender to theNXT Championship.[53] Crews received his title shot againstFinn Bálor on the November 4 episode ofNXT,[54] winning the match by disqualification after he was attacked byBaron Corbin, who held a grudge against Crews for eliminating him from the battle royal.[55] On December 16, atNXT TakeOver: London, Crews lost to Corbin, marking his first pinfall loss in WWE.[56] Crews then started a feud withElias Samson, defeating him on the April 6 episode ofNXT.[57][58]
AtRoyal Rumble on January 29, 2017, Crews entered his firstRoyal Rumble match at number 22, but was eliminated byLuke Harper.[71] Crews then teamed up with Kalisto to feud withDolph Ziggler, defeating him in a two-on-onehandicap match on February 12 atElimination Chamber. Following the match, Ziggler attacked the two, injuring Crews' ankle, which was trapped in a chair.[72] On the February 28 episode ofSmackDown, Crews lost to Ziggler in achairs match.[73]
Crews (left) along with his fellow Titus Worldwide partnersDana Brooke andTitus O'Neil in April 2018
As part of theSuperstar Shake-up, Crews was moved to theRaw brand.[74] Shortly thereafter, a storyline began withTitus O'Neil offering Crews his managerial services.[75] After becoming affiliated with the "Titus Brand", he started showing signs of aheel turn by displaying attitude and cockiness.[76] On June 4, atExtreme Rules, Crews lost to Kalisto.[77] During that period,Akira Tozawa joined the Titus Brand, which then became "Titus Worldwide" and turned O'Neil face.[78] Crews lost to Elias on September 24 atNo Mercy,[79] and twice more onRaw.[80][81] During this time,Dana Brooke joined Titus Worldwide as their manager, and Tozawa quietly left the faction.[82]
On the January 8, 2018 and January 15 episodes ofRaw, Crews and O'Neil defeatedRaw Tag Team ChampionsCesaro and Sheamus inupset victories.[83][84] AtRoyal Rumble on January 28, Crews entered the Royal Rumble at number 13, but was eliminated byCesaro.[85] On February 19, his ring name was shortened to simply "Apollo".[1] Apollo and O'Neil failed to win the titles atElimination Chamber on February 25 and the next night onRaw.[86][87] On the April 16 episode ofRaw, his ring name was reverted to Apollo Crews.[88] On the September 3 episode ofRaw, Brooke parted ways with Titus Worldwide after mid-match coaching backfired, causing Brooke to lose her match.[89]
On the October 15 episode ofRaw, Crews returned as a singles competitor when he interrupted Elias during his performance, disbanding Titus Worldwide.[90] The following week, he lost to Elias.[91] On the December 31 episode ofRaw, Crews won a battle royal by eliminating eight wrestlers to become the number one contender for the Intercontinental Championship againstDean Ambrose. That same night, he was defeated by Ambrose.[92][93] On January 27, 2019, atRoyal Rumble, Crews entered the Royal Rumble match at number 20, but was eliminated by Baron Corbin.[94] As part of theSuperstar Shake-up, Crews was drafted back to theSmackDownbrand.[95] AtSummerSlam on August 11, Crews lost toBuddy Murphy by disqualification after interference fromErick Rowan.[96] In August, Crews competed in theKing of the Ring tournament, but lost toAndrade in the first round.[97]
On the April 6, 2020 episode ofRaw, Crews was traded to the Raw brand and lost toAleister Black in his first match back.[98] On the April 20 episode ofRaw, Crews defeatedMVP to qualify for theMoney in the Bank ladder match,[99] but injured his knee in aWWE United States Championship match against Andrade the following week, ruling him out of the ladder match.[100]
Shortly after his return, on the May 25 episode ofRaw, Crews defeated Andrade to win the United States Championship, his first title in WWE.[101] AtBacklash on June 14, Crews retained the title against Andrade.[102] In June, he began a feud withThe Hurt Business after Crews rejected an offer to join the stable. A title defense was set up between Crews and The Hurt Business' leader MVP on July 19 atThe Horror Show at Extreme Rules,[103] however, Crews was absent at the event, and MVP declared himself as the new champion.[104] Crews' absence was explained as due to having suffered a bulging disc as a result from an attack byBobby Lashley. In reality, however, he had tested positive forCOVID-19.[105][106] Crews returned on the August 3 episode ofRaw and retained the title against MVP,[107] as well as in a rematch on August 23 atSummerSlam.[108] Seven days later atPayback on August 30, Crews lost the United States Championship to Lashley.[109] On September 27, atClash of Champions, Crews failed to regain the title from Lashley.[110]
As part of the2020 Draft in October, Crews was drafted back to the SmackDown brand.[111] On the January 8, 2021 episode ofSmackDown,Big E issued an open challenge for theWWE Intercontinental Championship, which Crews immediately accepted and lost.[112] Over the following weeks, Crews would accept another one of Big E's open challenges, however, E rejected each of his challenges and told Crews to go to the "back of the line". On the February 19 episode ofSmackDown, after losing toShinsuke Nakamura, Crews attacked Big E, who was at ringside, turningheel for the first time in his WWE career.[113] Crews would then debut a new character where he declared himselfNigerian royalty, spoke with a Nigerian accent in his promos in order to "embrace who he really is" and began coming to the ring with a spear.[114][115] AtFastlane on March 21, Crews failed to win the Intercontinental Championship from Big E,[116] but won the title in aNigerian Drum Fight with help fromCommander Azeez on Night 2 ofWrestleMania 37 on April 11.[117] On the August 13 episode ofSmackDown, Crews lost the title to King Nakamura, ending his reign at 124 days.[118] He failed to regain the title on the September 24 episode ofSmackDown.[119]
As part of the2021 Draft, both Crews and Azeez were drafted to the Raw brand.[120] He participated in a battle royal atSurvivor Series on November 21 and challengedDamian Priest for the United States Championship on the November 29 episode ofRaw, but failed to win both.[121][122]
Brand switches and various storylines (2022–present)
After spending most of the year relegated toMain Event, both Crews and Azeez were sent back to the NXT brand.[123] On the June 7, 2022 episode ofNXT, Crews returned as aface and dropped the Nigerian character, confronting NXT ChampionBron Breakker. He made his in-ring return to the brand on the same night, where he andSolo Sikoa defeatedCarmelo Hayes andGrayson Waller.[124] Crews feuded with Waller, losing to him on the August 30 episode ofNXT after a poke to the eye.[125][126] AtHalloween Havoc on October 22, Crews defeated Waller in acasket match.[127] On December 10, atDeadline, Crews challenged Breakker for the NXT Championship in a losing effort.[128] He then engaged in a feud with Hayes, leading to atwo out of three falls match on February 4, 2023 atVengeance Day, which Crews lost in two straight falls. After the match, he was attacked by his former ally Dabba-Kato, originally Commander Azeez,[129] who defeated Crews on the March 14 episode ofNXT.[130] On the April 18 episode ofNXT, Crews wrestled his final match on the brand, losing toDijak.[131]
As part of the2023 WWE Draft, Crews was drafted back to the Raw brand.[132] He was drafted to the SmackDown brand at Night 2 of the2024 WWE Draft in the supplemental draft.[133] He would mostly compete onMain Event during this time. However, his notable victories onSmackDown during this time were againstGiovanni Vinci, defeating him twice in under one minute. He would also form a tag team withBaron Corbin until Corbin's departure from the company on November 1, when his contract would not be renewed.
On the January 24, 2025 episode ofSmackDown, Crews defeatedJohnny Gargano after interference from theMotor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin andAlex Shelley), having gotten into a confrontation the week prior.[134] Shortly afterwards, on February 4, it was reported that Crews underwent surgery for a torn pectoral muscle and would be out of action.[135]
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