Apollo Crews

Who Is Apollo Crews?

Apollo Crews is an American professional wrestler. Apollo Crews is currently associated with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He performs on the Smackdown brand of WWE. His real name is Sesugh Uhaa.

However, people recognize him as Apollo Crews, his ring name.

Wrestling has always been the love of his life. He always knew that he wanted to be a professional wrestler.

The thirst to thrive as a wrestling champion drove him to the wrestling training institute.

The rest is now history. We see fierce and determined Uhaa in the ring, but not many know about his journey.

Hence, today we will dive deep into the personal and professional life of Apollo Crews. Let’s get started!

More Facts About Apollo Crews

Early Life and Family

Apollo Crews was born in Sacramento, California, United States of America.

His birth name is Sesugh Uhaa. Unfortunately, the names of his parents are not available.

He is said to have a sister.

His sister is in the United States Army, stationed in San Antonio, Texas.

He is of Nigerian descent. His father originally hails from Benue State in the mid-belt region of Nigeria.

His mother is from Uganda. They separated after a few years of marriage.

Sesugh Uhaa lived with his father initially in Uganda.

His mother raised his sister in Atlanta, Georgia.

The separated family used to fly over to the other part very often for a reunion.

The Love for Wrestling

He idolized wrestlers such as Stone Cold Steve Austin, The Rock, and especially Kurt Angle.

He was a fan who followed religiously followed his idols’ footsteps.

Curtis went to military high school. He was associated with various sports in high school.

Amateur wrestling, football, soccer, and track and field were his go-to games.

He used the opportunities of playing as an outlet and a way to get away from military life. He trained in wrestling in high school.

His coach believed that he was as strong as a single nation because of his athletic build and weight training.

In fact, he was the strongest kid in high school. Hence, he was given a nickname, Uhaa Nation.

People that know him personally say that he is calm, humble, and cool-headed.

Age, Height, And Weight

The wrestler was born on August 22, 1987. Hence, he is 35 years old.

Besides that, the fighter takes great care of his diet and health.

Likewise, he has a daily workout routine and trains regularly.

As a result, he is quite fit and has a toned physique.

Furthermore, he weighs 242.5 lbs (110 kgs) and is 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) tall.

Professional Wrestling Career

Uhaa managed to get a job to pay for his professional wrestling training right after finishing college.

He trained under Curtis “Mr.” Hughes at his World Wrestling Alliance 4 (WWA4) promotion training school in Atlanta.

He was 21 then.

Uhaa made his wrestling debut under the ring name Uhaa Nation on August 17, 2009.

He then passed over a year working mainly for small promotions on the Georgian independent circuit.

At the same time, he managed to make trips to Houston, Texas-based Pro Wrestling Alliance (PWA), and Phenix City, Alabama-based Great Championship Wrestling (GCW).

In addition, he worked with fellow WWA4 trainee AR Fox very often.

Dragon Gate and affiliates

Early 2011

Uhaa was a participant at a tryout seminar held by the Dragon Gate USA promotion on September 9, 2011.

He then immediately signed for appearances for Dragon Gate USA. Moreover, he signed up for its parent promotion, Dragon Gate.

Similarly, he was associated with its close affiliates, Evolve and Full Impact Pro (FIP).

He debuted for the Dragon Gate USA later that same day. In fact, he succeeded in defeating Aaron Draven in a squash match.

He then debuted in pay-per-view debut at Untouchable 2011 the following day.

He accepted Brodie Lee’s open challenge and ended up dominating him. Lee then left the ringside area.

Uhaa then defeated Facade, Flip Kendrick, and Sugar Dunkerton in a four-way match the following day.

It was at the Way of the Ronin 2011 pay-per-view.

Late 2011

He appeared in the Full Impact Pro for the first time on October 29.

In fact, he defeated Jake Manning for FIP Florida Heritage Championship.

He then played under a storyline.

It consisted of a premise where different Dragon Gate USA stables tried to recruit him to join them.

He then debuted in Japan for Dragon Gate on November 30.

But, unfortunately, it was during an event produced by the villainous Blood Warriors stable.

He succeeded in defeating Kotoka in a match that lasted 99 seconds.

As a result, he made a place for himself as the newest member of Blood Warriors.

He worked alongside the Blood Warriors stable for the remaining days of the tour.

The tour lasted until December 25. He won every match that he participated in.

Dragon Gate USA named Uhaa the Best Newcomer of the year in late December 2011.

Uhaa stood second behind Daichi Hashimoto in Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s award category for Rookie of the Year.

2012

Uhaa returned to the United States at the beginning of 2012. He debuted for Evolve on January 14, 2012.

In fact, he won over Pinkie Sanchez.

Akira Tozawa took over the leadership of Blood Warriors from Cima in March 2012.

As a result, the group was renamed Mad Blankey.

Uhaa Nation agreed and went forward with the group.

He made his first appearance for Mad Blankey at a DGUSA event on March 29.

Along with his stablemates Akira Tozawa and BxB Hulk, he had a win over Ronin (Chuck Taylor, Johnny Gargano, and Rich Swann).

They also defeated DUF (Arik Cannon, Pinkie Sanchez, and Sami Callihan). It was in a three-way trio match.

HOWEVER, UHAA SUFFERED FROM A KNEE INJURY DURING THE MATCH UHAA.

IT DISABLED HIM TO PLAY FOR A YEAR.

2013

He made his official return to the ring on February 1, 2013.

It was at Full Impact Pro’s Everything Burns iPPV.

He defeated Chasyn Rance at the FIP Florida Heritage Championship.

He returned to Japan and Dragon Gate on March 2, 2013.

Along with BxB Hulk, he defeated Don Fujii and Masaaki Mochizuki at the Open the Twin Gate Championship.

However, the duo lost the title to Shingo Takagi and Yamato on May 5.

Uhaa Nation was pinned for the first time in a Dragon Gate ring on May 1.

Jimmy Susumu eliminated him in the first round of the 2013 King of Gate tournament.

Uhaa Nation faced his first pinfall loss in the promotion on July 28 at entering the Dragon 2013.

It was Dragon Gate USA’s fourth anniversary when he got defeated by Anthony Nese.

Uhaa then lost the FIP Florida Heritage Championship to Gran Akuma on August 9.

Mad Blankey had turned on Uhaa Nation as he refused to wrestle with Akira Tozawa.

Tozawa had recently been kicked out of the group.

What then partnered with Tozawa and Shingo Takagi.

The trio was joined by Masato Yoshino, Ricochet, and Shachihoko Boy to form a new stable on September 12.

The group was named Monster Express on October 6.

2014

Uhaa Nation was handed his first shot on January 12, 2014. He received it at Dragon Gate USA’s top title, the Open the Freedom Gate Championship.

However, he lost to the defending champion, Johnny Gargano.

He then had his first shot at Dragon Gate’s top title, the Open the Dream Gate Championship, on March 6.

But he was again defeated, this time the defending champion, Monster Express, stablemate Ricochet.

Dragon Gate USA signed a new contract with Uhaa on May 23, 2014.

They then returned to Dragon Gate USA as a surprise partner to Akira Tozawa in a tag team match on February 5, 2015.

The duo had a win over Cyber Kong and Don Fujii.

Uhaa confronted BxB Hulk At the end of the event.

He challenged him to a match for the Open the Dream Gate Championship.

However, he lost to Hulk on March 1, 2014.

He then announced that it was his final match for the Dragon Gate.

He had his final Evolve events during WWN Live’s WrestleMania week later that month.

WWE

Uhaa participated in a WWE tryout camp in October 2014.

He was then offered a developmental contract.

It was reported that Uhaa had come to terms on a contract with WWE since the last of 2014.

2015

Uhaa Nation then reported to the WWE Performance Center on April 6, 2015.

WWE announced Uhaa’s participation in a new NXT recruits class in a press release on April 13.

Uhaa was seen on television for the first time in association with WWE on the May 6 episode of NXT.

He was seen signing an NXT contract in a segment with William Regal.

He got associated with the NXT house shows in May 2015. His ring name, the Uhaa Nation, was retained.

He was then introduced with a new ring name, Apollo Crews, on August 5.

Crews debuted on the televised NXT on August 22 at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn.

He debuted at the August 13 tapings. It was scheduled to air after NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn, defeating Martin Stone.

Brooklyn, Crews defeated Tye Dillinger in his official debut game at NXT TakeOver.

Crews had a win in a battle royal to become the #1 contender in the NXT Championship at the October 8 tapings of NXT.

The title was given to him over Finn Bálor on October 22.

However, Finn won the match. But he could not win the title owing to some sort of disqualification.

Baron Corbin then attacked Apollo.

Unfortunately, Corbin had bad blood against Crews as he eliminated him from the #1 contender’s battle royal.

The rivalry between Crews and Corbin turned into an official feud.

It was held at NXT TakeOver: London, which Corbin won.

2016

He then had a small feud against Elias Samson.

It started after he saved Johnny Gargano from Elias’ assault on March 23, 2016, NXT.

The rivals were scheduled to have a match on the April 6 NXT. Crews became the winner.

Main roster (2016–present)

Crews debuted on the main roster on April 4, 2016. It was on Raw, defeating Tyler Breeze.

He then got into a feud with the Social Outcasts.

He succeeded in defeating each stable member, culminating in a match on the April 18 Raw.

Crews had given his words that he would join the Social Outcasts if any stable member could defeat him. He stated it before the match.

On the other hand, Social Outcasts also agreed to leave Crews alone if he won the match. It was a part of the agreement.

Crews then won over Heath Slater, ending the feud.

However, he faced his first loss on the main roster on the May 23 Raw.

He lost to Chris Jericho in the Money in the Bank qualifying match.

Sheamus’ pre-match attack on Crews was held responsible for the loss.

Crews and Sheamus then had a feud at Money in the Bank. Apollo was victorious this time.

Mid 2016

The SmackDown brand drafted him in the 2016 WWE draft on July 19.

Crews won a battle royal on July 16.

He earned a spot in a six-pack challenge, determining the #1 contender to Dean Ambrose’s WWE World Championship at SummerSlam.

Dolph Ziggler then defeated him in the six-pack challenge.

It also had AJ Styles, Baron Corbin, Bray Wyatt, and John Cena.

He had a win over Corbin and Kalisto the following week.

Consequently, he became the #1 contender for the WWE Intercontinental Championship.

He got his title shot at SummerSlam on August 21. However, The Mix defeated him.

Crews then had a win over The Miz in a non-title match at the 2016 Tribute to the Troops.

It led to a title match on the December 20 SmackDown. Unfortunately, the Miz retained the title.

You can watch Crews’ match listing on The Internet Wrestling Database (IWD).

2017

Crews then participated in his first Royal Rumble match on January 29, 2017.

He entered as number 22. Luke Harper later eliminated him.

Wife and Children

Sesugh Uhaa is married to Linda Palonen. The couple looks stunning together.

They had two children: a daughter, Sade Sofiya Uhaa, and a son, Kai Issac Uhaa.

He seems to be very close to his children.

He loves them dearly and never fails to express his gratitude towards those pure little humans on his social media handles.

Net Worth

Uhaa has earned some perfect money from his wrestling career.

All the ventures that he has been associated with paid him a good amount.

APOLLO CREWS’ NET WORTH IS ESTIMATED TO BE AROUND $2 MILLION.

He seems to live a decent life with his wife and children.

Also Read: Gwendolyn Osborne, Courtney Tailor, Aspen Rae

Social Media Presence

Uhaa is very active on his social media handles.

He is often seen telling stories about himself and his babies.