Tag: Apollo Crews - Page 5

Apollo Crews to challenge for US title at WWE Clash of Champions

Posted on September 22, 2020 by Joseph Currier

The card for Sunday’s Clash of Champions pay-per-view is now up to nine title matches.

Bobby Lashley will defend his United States Championship against former champion Apollo Crews at Clash of Champions. Lashley defeated Crews at Payback last month to win the United States title.

Lashley vs. Crews was announced for Clash of Champions during tonight’s Raw. Crews defeated Lashley’s Hurt Business stablemate Cedric Alexander in a singles match on tonight’s show. After Alexander got in Ricochet’s face on the outside, Alexander got back in the ring and was rolled up by Crews. The Hurt Business then attacked Crews and Ricochet after the match. Lashley put Crews in a full nelson and MVP warned Crews that he’s got more of this coming on Sunday.

Here’s the updated card for Clash of Champions:

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defends against Randy Orton in an ambulance match
Universal Champion Roman Reigns defends against Jey Uso
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley defends against Nikki Cross
Intercontinental Champion Jeff Hardy defends against AJ Styles and Sami Zayn in a triple threat ladder match
United States Champion Bobby Lashley defends against Apollo Crews
Women’s Tag Team Champions Shayna Baszler & Nia Jax defend against Ruby Riott & Liv Morgan
SmackDown Tag Team Champions Shinsuke Nakamura & Cesaro defend against The Lucha House Party
Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defend against Andrade & Angel Garza
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defends against Zelina Vega (pre-show)

Bobby Lashley wins United States title at WWE Payback

Posted on August 30, 2020 by Bryan Rose

Bobby Lashley is the new WWE United States champion.

Lashley defeated Apollo tonight in a back and forth match where he won the title by submission, latching on the full nelson.

This marks Lashley’s second reign as champion, his first in over a decade. He first won the title back on the May 23, 2006 edition of SmackDown, defeating John Bradshaw Layfield.

Apollo has been feuding with MVP, Bobby Lashley, and Shelton Benjamin, collectively known as The Hurt Business, in recent months. He was originally supposed to face MVP at Extreme Rules for the United States title, but was unable to due to what announcers described as an injury.

Last Sunday at SummerSlam, Apollo defeated MVP in a United States title match. A match was then made between him and Lashley for the title the following day on Raw.

Apollo Crews had held the championship for 97 days, defeating Andrade on the May 25th edition of Raw.

United States title match set for WWE Payback

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Joseph Currier

After retaining against MVP on last night’s SummerSlam pre-show, Apollo Crews is set to defend his United States Championship against another member of The Hurt Business.

WWE has announced that Bobby Lashley will challenge Crews for the United States title at Payback this coming Sunday:

Apollo Crews may have prevailed over MVP, but that doesn’t mean he’s seen the last of The Hurt Business.

Crews will have to go through The Hurt Business’ All Mighty when [he] defends his United States Championship against Bobby Lashley at WWE Payback.

Warring with MVP for months, Crews has become the primary target of his loquacious rival’s newly formed battalion. The fast-rising champion turned aside MVP’s best at SummerSlam, but Lashley represents an entirely different challenge with his unparalleled strength.

And few know of Lashley’s brute power better than Crews, who was out of action for weeks after being injured by The All Mighty’s Full Nelson.

Can Crews keep his first-ever title reign rolling, or will Lashley bring the gold home to The Hurt Business?

Don’t miss WWE Payback on the award-winning WWE Network, streaming on Sunday, Aug. 30, at 7 p.m. ET/4 p.m. PT.

To build to the match, Mark Henry will officiate an arm wrestling competition between Crews and Lashley on Raw tonight.

The Hurt Business’ Lashley and Shelton Benjamin were banned from ringside for Crews vs. MVP at SummerSlam. That was a stipulation of Crews defeating Benjamin on Raw last week.

Crews has been United States Champion since winning the title from Andrade on the May 25 episode of Raw.

Payback is taking place just one week after SummerSlam. Sasha Banks & Bayley defending their Women’s Tag Team titles has also been announced for the PPV, but their challengers have yet to be revealed.

Mark Henry to officiate arm wrestling match on WWE Raw

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Joseph Currier

An arm wrestling competition is set for tonight’s post-SummerSlam episode of Raw.

WWE announced this afternoon that Mark Henry will officiate an arm wrestling competition between United States Champion Apollo Crews and Bobby Lashley on Raw tonight:

After overcoming MVP at SummerSlam to retain the United States Championship, Apollo Crews must now test his strength against ‘The All Mighty’ Bobby Lashley — with a WWE Hall of Famer presiding, as ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ Mark Henry will officiate an Arm Wrestling Competition between Crews and Lashley tonight on Raw.

Crews is already more than familiar with Lashley’s brute power after being put on the shelf earlier this summer by Lashley’s devastating Full Nelson.

Henry figures to help keep order with the rest of The Hurt Business likely not far behind, but can Crews withstand Lashley’s indomitable strength?

MVP’s Hurt Business stablemates Lashley and Shelton Benjamin were banned from ringside for Crews’ United States title defense against MVP on last night’s SummerSlam pre-show. WWE has announced that Crews will defend his US title against Lashley at Payback this coming Sunday (August 30).

Tonight will be the first Raw of the WWE ThunderDome era at the Amway Center in Orlando, Florida. Keith Lee will make his official Raw debut after losing the NXT Championship to Karrion Kross in the main event of TakeOver XXX.

Aleister Black will appear on the KO Show with Kevin Owens tonight. Ivar of The Viking Raiders facing off with Dolph Ziggler in Raw Underground is also set for the show.

United States title match taking place on WWE SummerSlam pre-show

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Joseph Currier

WWE has announced which of tonight’s matches will be taking place on the SummerSlam pre-show.

Apollo Crews’ United States Championship defense against MVP will be tonight’s SummerSlam pre-show match. The pre-show begins at 6 p.m. Eastern time, with the main card then starting at 7 p.m. Eastern.

Crews defeated MVP on Raw three weeks ago to become the unquestioned US Champion. MVP had been calling himself the rightful champion after Crews wasn’t able to compete in their match that was scheduled for Extreme Rules last month.

After losing to Crews, MVP cut a promo blaming the technical issues caused by RETRIBUTION and challenged Crews to a rematch.

As a stipulation of Crews defeating Shelton Benjamin on Raw last Monday, MVP’s Hurt Business stablemates Bobby Lashley and Benjamin will be banned from ringside for tonight’s match.

Here’s the list of announced matches for SummerSlam:

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending against Randy Orton
Universal Champion Braun Strowman defending against “The Fiend” Bray Wyatt in a falls count anywhere match
Raw Women’s Champion Sasha Banks defending against Asuka
SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley defending against Asuka
Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against Andrade & Angel Garza
Dominik Mysterio vs. Seth Rollins in a street fight
Mandy Rose vs. Sonya Deville in a no DQ, loser leaves WWE match
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against MVP (pre-show)

United States title rematch official for WWE SummerSlam

Posted on August 4, 2020 by Joseph Currier

Though Apollo Crews defeated MVP on Raw tonight to become the unquestioned United States Champion, a rematch between the two is already set.

WWE has confirmed that Crews will defend his United States title against MVP at SummerSlam. The pay-per-view is taking place on Sunday, August 23.

Crews vs. MVP for the US title was supposed to take place at Extreme Rules last month but didn’t happen due to Crews testing positive for COVID-19. MVP has been calling himself the rightful United States Champion since then. Crews defeated MVP to retain the title on Raw tonight, getting the win by hitting his toss powerbomb.

After winning tonight’s match, Crews received the old US title belt and the new title belt that was introduced by MVP. Crews said in a post-match interview that he was going to display the old title belt in his kids’ bedroom because he wants them to have the first championship he won in WWE.

MVP got on the microphone after losing and said WWE and Crews should be ashamed of themselves. As part of a show-long storyline ahead of a new faction arriving on Raw tonight, lights were going on and off during Crews and MVP’s match. MVP blamed the unsafe working environment for his loss and challenged Crews to a rematch at SummerSlam.

It was announced later on Raw that Crews has accepted MVP’s challenge.

This is the third match that’s been made official for SummerSlam. Here’s the updated card for the PPV:

WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending against Randy Orton
Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against Andrade & Angel Garza
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against MVP

United States title match to open WWE Raw

Posted on August 2, 2020 by Bryan Rose

A United States title match originally set for Extreme Rules will take place on Raw.

WWE confirmed this afternoon that Apollo Crews will defend the United States title against MVP on Raw. The WWE.com article noted that the match will start the show.

Crews was originally set to defend the title against MVP at Extreme Rules. However, WWE said at the time that he wasn’t cleared to compete as a result of an attack by Bobby Lashley. Apollo was last seen on the June 27 edition of Raw, losing a match to MVP. Lashley assaulted Apollo after the match, leading to an in-storyline injury.

In the weeks since Extreme Rules, MVP has continued to declare himself champion despite Apollo still being recognized by WWE as champion, going as far as showcasing a new United States championship belt.

Shelton Benjamin has since joined forces with MVP and Bobby Lashley. Together, they have formed the faction known as The Hurt Business.

WWE notes: Updates on Rey Mysterio contract, Apollo Crews

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Josh Nason

On the post-WWE Extreme Rules edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer had updates on both Rey Mysterio and Apollo Crews coming out of the show.

Meltzer said that Mysterio still hasn’t signed a new deal which was the reason for the finish. However, his gut is that Mysterio will re-sign with WWE which is the reason they left his status open ended after the show. Earlier this month, Meltzer reported that Mysterio was working without a contract.

Meltzer said the reason U.S. Champion Apollo Crews wasn’t on the show was due to COVID-19. He didn’t say specifically that Crews had tested positive, but alluded to that being the case. He didn’t have a a timeline of when Crews is expected to return.

WWE said at the top of the show that Crews had failed a pre-match physical and was not cleared to compete in his match against MVP. He was last seen on the June 29th Raw when he was pinned by MVP.

WWE reveals new US title design, match set for Extreme Rules

Posted on July 7, 2020 by Bryan Rose

A new match for Extreme Rules, along with a new United States title design, were revealed tonight on Raw.

Announcers confirmed during the show that Apollo Crews would defend the United States championship against MVP at Extreme Rules, which takes place on July 19.

MVP and Bobby Lashley then came out to discuss what happened the previous week, when MVP defeated Apollo Crews in a match. Although it was not for the championship, MVP declared himself the new United States champion anyway, revealing a new United States championship design.

Lashley agreed, handing the championship to MVP. Ricochet and Cedric Alexander interrupted the ceremony, which eventually led to a tag team match. Lashley won the match for his team, pinning Alexander with a spear.

The United States championship, save for a few modifications, had retained the same design since being reintroduced in 2003. The title’s lineage dates back to 1975, with Harley Race being recognized by WWE as the first champion.

Three matches announced for WWE Raw, Big Show & Flair to appear

Posted on June 29, 2020 by Joseph Currier

WWE has announced three matches and a segment that will be airing on tonight’s episode of Raw.

United States Champion Apollo Crews vs. MVP in a non-title match, The Viking Raiders vs. Andrade & Angel Garza, and Akira Tozawa defending the 24/7 Championship against R-Truth are set for the episode.

WWE has also announced that Big Show and Ric Flair will appear on tonight’s Raw. Big Show confronted Randy Orton and Flair last week during the segment where Flair was anointing Orton as the greatest wrestler ever.

Crews defeated Shelton Benjamin in non-title matches on Raw each of the past two weeks. MVP has been trying to recruit Crews and there was a VIP Lounge segment with the two of them last week. MVP mentioned his previous 343-day reign as United States Champion and said that — whether Crews likes it or not — the US title is coming back home to him where it belongs.

A distraction by MVP allowed Benjamin to attack Crews before their match last week. After the match, Bobby Lashley put Crews in a full nelson.

Tozawa won the 24/7 title from R-Truth last week after MVP and Lashley took out Tozawa’s ninjas and Lashley put Truth in the full nelson.

The Street Profits retained their Raw Tag Team titles against The Viking Raiders on last Monday’s show. Andrade & Garza attacked The Street Profits after until The Viking Raiders made the save.

Tonight’s Raw was supposed to be taped last Friday, but the tapings for the show were pushed back to Saturday. It was confirmed last week that multiple people in WWE have tested positive for COVID-19.

Tonight’s show will feature a double contract signing for Drew McIntyre vs. Dolph Ziggler for the WWE Championship and Asuka vs. Sasha Banks for the Raw Women’s Championship at Extreme Rules. The contract signing will be hosted by Samoa Joe and will feature all of the participants in the ring at the same time. The feud between Seth Rollins and Rey Mysterio will also continue tonight.

United States title match to take place on WWE Backlash pre-show

Posted on June 14, 2020 by Joseph Currier

WWE has announced which match will be part of tonight’s Backlash pre-show.

It was revealed ahead of tonight’s pay-per-view that Apollo Crews vs. Andrade for the United States Championship will take place on the pre-show. Andrade became the number one contender to Crews’ title by defeating Kevin Owens and Angel Garza in a triple threat match on Raw last Monday.

Stablemates Andrade and Garza worked together against Owens in that number one contender’s match until Andrade went for a pin after they hit a double-team move. After Owens hit a stunner on Garza near the end of the match, Andrade hit a dropkick to break up the cover. Andrade then pinned Garza to get the win.

Zelina Vega accidentally got knocked down while she tried to break up Andrade and Garza fighting outside of the ring during the number one contender’s match. Andrade and Garza argued backstage after the match until an angry Vega came up to them and gestured for them to walk with her.

Crews won the US title from Andrade on the May 25 episode of Raw.

The Backlash pre-show will begin at 6 p.m. Eastern time tonight, with the main card starting an hour later. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:

Edge vs. Randy Orton
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending against Bobby Lashley
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defending against Nia Jax
Universal Champion Braun Strowman defending against The Miz & John Morrison in a handicap match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Bayley & Sasha Banks defending against Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross and The IIconics in a triple threat match
Raw Tag Team Champions The Street Profits defending against The Viking Raiders
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Andrade (pre-show)

United States title match added to WWE Backlash

Posted on June 9, 2020 by Joseph Currier

Former United States Champion Andrade is getting another shot at the title.

United States Champion Apollo Crews will defend his title against Andrade at Sunday’s Backlash pay-per-view. Andrade became the number one contender to Crews’ title by defeating Angel Garza and Kevin Owens in a triple threat number one contender’s match on Raw tonight.

Andrade pinned his stablemate Garza to win the number one contender’s match. It began with Owens attacking Andrade and Garza as they were making their entrance. Andrade and Garza then teamed up until hitting a double suplex on Owens. Andrade went for a cover, but Garza broke it up. Andrade and Garza argued and shoved each other, then Zelina Vega accidentally got knocked down as she tried to break up them fighting outside the ring.

Owens hit a stunner on Garza at the end of the match, but Andrade flew in with a dropkick and broke up the pin. Andrade then pinned Garza himself to get the win.

Andrade and Garza argued backstage after the match until an angry Vega came up to them and gestured for them to walk with her.

Crews won the United States title from Andrade on Raw two weeks ago. It’s the first championship that Crews has held in WWE.

WWE announced that Crews would defend the US title against an opponent of his choosing on Raw last week. Crews picked Owens, but that turned into Crews & Owens defeating Andrade & Garza in a tag match after Andrade and Garza interrupted their title match.

Here’s the updated card for Backlash:

Edge vs. Randy Orton
WWE Champion Drew McIntyre defending against Bobby Lashley
Raw Women’s Champion Asuka defending against Nia Jax
Universal Champion Braun Strowman defending against The Miz & John Morrison in a handicap match
Women’s Tag Team Champions Bayley & Sasha Banks defending against Alexa Bliss & Nikki Cross and The IIconics in a triple threat match
United States Champion Apollo Crews defending against Andrade
Jeff Hardy vs. Sheamus

Asuka-Charlotte set for WWE Raw, Apollo Crews to defend US title

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Joseph Currier

WWE has made a couple of announcements for next Monday’s episode of Raw.

Raw Women’s Champion Asuka and NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair will face off in a non-title champion vs. champion match on next Monday’s show. New United States Champion Apollo Crews will also make his first title defense, with WWE announcing that Crews will defend the title against an opponent of his choosing.

Asuka will defend her Raw Women’s Championship against Nia Jax at Backlash on Sunday, June 14. Jax became the number one contender to Asuka’s title by defeating Natalya and Charlotte in a triple threat match on Raw last night.

Charlotte also faced SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley in a non-title match on SmackDown last week. The finish was Bayley getting the win by reversing a roll-up and holding onto the ropes while pinning Charlotte.

Charlotte’s next title defense is in a triple threat match against Rhea Ripley and Io Shirai at NXT TakeOver: In Your House on Sunday, June 7.

Crews defeated Andrade for the United States title on Raw last night. This is the first championship that Crews has won in WWE.

Next week’s Raw was being taped at the WWE Performance Center today. WWE has announced Seth Rollins vs. Aleister Black for the episode, and Rollins will also host a “retirement ceremony” for Rey Mysterio.

Apollo Crews wins United States title on WWE Raw

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Joseph Currier

Apollo Crews has won his first championship in WWE.

Crews defeated Andrade on Raw tonight to win the United States Championship. Crews got the win after hitting a press slam, a standing moonsault, and a standing Shooting Star Press at the end of the match.

After the match, Crews was interviewed in the ring about his title win. He said that when he started on his journey to become a WWE wrestler, people laughed in his face and told him he couldn’t do it. Crews said he never gave up, and after 11 years of sacrifice, hard work, dedication, and discipline during his career he’s finally won his first title in WWE.

Andrade was shown angrily throwing equipment around backstage after losing the title.

Crews previously challenged Andrade for the US title on the April 27 episode of Raw. The finish of that match was the referee stopping it due to Crews suffering a storyline knee injury. That storyline injury was also the explanation for Crews being removed from this year’s men’s Money in the Bank ladder match.

Andrade had been US Champion since winning the title from Rey Mysterio at a Madison Square Garden house show in December.

WWE Raw video highlights: Contract signing, US title match

Posted on April 28, 2020 by Joseph Currier

A contract signing for Drew McIntyre and Seth Rollins’ WWE Championship match at Money in the Bank headlined last night’s episode of Raw.

Rollins said he started things with McIntyre, but he did it to get the WWE Championship to where it needs to be. It isn’t about Rollins, it isn’t about McIntyre — it’s bigger than both of them. Rollins said McIntyre is going to be a great champion some day, but he isn’t a leader. Rollins called himself a leader and said the WWE universe needs someone to guide them more than ever right now. Rollins said he can be the light in the darkness.

Rollins said he suffered for the WWE Championship, but McIntyre doesn’t have to. He said McIntyre is a smart man, this will make sense to him in time, and Rollins will lead him too when that time comes. McIntyre responded by saying that things are clearer to him now — it’s clear that Rollins is completely full of sh*t. McIntyre vowed that he wouldn’t let Rollins win the WWE title.

McIntyre slammed Rollins’ head against the desk as things turned physical. He was setting up for a Claymore, but Murphy appeared and attacked McIntyre. Rollins hugged Murphy, then McIntyre flew in with a Claymore and ended up laying out Murphy. Rollins bailed to close the show, with McIntyre asking if Murphy was his sacrificial lamb.

Apollo Crews pinned Andrade in a six-man tag match last night, setting up Crews getting a United States Championship shot later in the show. Their title match ended when the referee stopped it due to Crews having a storyline knee injury. WWE later announced that Crews is out of this year’s men’s Money in the Bank ladder match due to the injury.