Apollo Crews Talks Wanting NXT Title Run Before Main Roster Move, WWE Signing Him, Having A Manager
Recently on Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast, NXT's Apollo Crews talked about a number of subjects including his gymnastics background, wanting to become NXT Champion before moving onto WWE's main roster, and whether he would consider having a manager.
When asked where his highflying moves come from, Crews admitted that he took gymnastics as a youth, though he stopped taking classes when other kids started to make fun of him. In retrospect, Crews wishes that he stuck with it.
"I took gymnastics as a young kid. I could always flip. I'd be on my bed or whatever, trampolines, just doing the most random stuff." Crews continued, "[people] are harsh as kids. I wish I had my mentality now when I was a kid because, right now, I wouldn't really care what people thought back then. But, back then, I cared what people thought, so I'd take gymnastics [and other kids would say], like, 'ah, naw, that's not something a guy should be doing,' just teasing me [and] picking at me for doing that."
Crews stated that his dream has always been to make it to WWE. At the time he was first signed to a WWE developmental deal, he did not even know that he was on WWE's radar.
"It was always a goal [to make it to WWE]. Like, the reason I did start working on the indies and doing those things before I got here was to get here, so it was cool. At the time I was asked to come here, I didn't even know if WWE knew about me."
Crews suggested that he is in no rush to get to the main roster, as he would like to become NXT Champion before moving onto the main roster.
"I don't want to miss out on the moments. Like, I want to remember everything. Triple H said before, 'no matter where we go from here, we're going to look back on this moment and it's probably going to be the greatest time in our life'. I don't want to look back and be like, 'NXT, I loved it, but it just went by so fast'. I want to enjoy every [moment]." Crews added, "I have goals that I set and I want to accomplish everything I can here possible. For me, it's amazing because my tryout was a year ago. Like, day one, I said I was going to come in here and my goal is to be [NXT] Champion, so for me to be in this spot is an honor."
Although Crews much prefers being a singles competitor to being in a tag team, he would be interested in having a manager.
"I like being solo. Like even when I did things in high school [or] even in team sports, there's something about just depending on yourself. Like, when you're out there, it's you versus this guy and you know that you are your only chance of survival. I thrive off of that." Crews continued, "Definitely, I'd love to have [a manager]. I definitely wouldn't mind that. It would be pretty cool. I think there could be some interesting things we could do there too, so that would be cool. Tagging, I wouldn't mind it, but I do love singles a lot more, but a manager would be cool, actually. I could see that though."
In addition to these topics, Crews talked about receiving inspiring words from Terry Crews, his growing fame, and more. Click here to listen to the podcast. If you use any of the quotes in this article, please credit Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast with an H/T to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.
Source: Sam Roberts' Wrestling Podcast