“I Still Wanted to Wrestle”- WWE Hall of Famer Says he Wanted a Tag Team Run with Apollo Crews

In 2021, Apollo Crews has undergone a career revival with a fresh gimmick. Although the Nigerian accent is corny and the addition of Dabba Kato is unnecessary, Crews holds the #2 prize on WWE SmackDown. The current Intercontinental Champion had an admirer in current SmackDown producer D-Von Dudley.

D-Von Dudley wanted to team with Apollo Crews

Although he’s still associated with WWE as a producer, D-Von Dudley’s wrestling career ended in 2016. He wrestled his last match at SummerSlam 2016 alongside Bubba Ray Dudley. The legend has now claimed he wanted to work with Apollo Crews before becoming a full-time producer.

Speaking on JOFO in the Ring, D-Von confessed he wanted to team up with Apollo Crews on SmackDown.

“I wanted to work with Apollo. Bubba went his way, and I stayed with WWE. I wasn’t ready to become a producer. I still wanted to wrestle. When I was told ‘no’ and they wanted me as a producer, not as talent, I took the job. I was hearing certain rumblings that Apollo needed to step it up and give it his all and give him that little push.” (H/T Fightful Wrestling)

“I remember that I volunteered. ‘let me tag with Apollo and help him out.’ I did the same thing with Batista and so many other guys over the years. I thought it would be a great thing to do. I was told ‘no.’ They put him with Titus O’Neil and Titus Worldwide. The opportunity was gone, and I was like, ‘Damn.’ I think me and Apollo could’ve done great things, but they said ‘no.'”

Who will challenge the new IC Champion first?

After being underutilized for years, Apollo broke through the glass ceiling by winning the United States Championship in 2020. While his run with the title wasn’t great, it was a sign of things to come. Fast forward to WrestleMania 37, and Apollo Crews is the current Intercontinental Champion.

Crews pinned Big E to become the new IC Champion in his fourth attempt. Since adopting his new persona as a Nigerian, irrespective of how strange his sudden change in accent is, Crews has showed a killer instinct.

With Commander Azeez, formerly known as Dabba Kato, on his side, Crews looks untouchable.

The SmackDown mid-card is full of wrestlers who can go toe-to-toe with Crews and put on an entertaining match. From former IC Champions in Shinsuke Nakamura and Kevin Owens to former World Champions in Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio, anyone can step up to challenge the new champion.

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