Apollo Crews anticipated his upcoming departure from WWE, but the moment caught him off guard while attending his son’s basketball practice.
During an interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Crews discussed his termination, noting he sensed the writing on the wall during WrestleMania week. He was among roughly two dozen wrestlers let go on April 24, the day after WrestleMania 42, in a wave that also affected Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane and the entire Wyatt Sicks stable.
“I had a feeling something was happening that week,” Crews remarked, explaining that despite WrestleMania being the prior week and his limited TV exposure, he’d been called for some appearances, which he found encouraging. “After not appearing for the two previous WrestleManias, I finally got the chance this time.”
The signs became clearer a few days later.
He recalled, “On the Wednesday following WrestleMania, I received a call from the travel team informing me I wouldn’t be needed for SmackDown that week, so I’d be staying home. At that point, I knew instantly that the release would come on Friday.”
He spent Friday waiting for the call.
“Around 5 p.m., as I dropped my son off for basketball practice, the call arrived—a brief 45‑second conversation explaining my release,” he said.
The reality of his own release took him by surprise, despite having imagined similar moments for other wrestlers over the years.
“I experienced a strange survivor’s guilt, wondering why I’d lasted so long,” he noted. “I’d imagined how it would feel, but the actual moment was far different from what I’d rehearsed in my mind.”
In truth, his emotional reaction was muted.
“I didn’t feel much of anything; it wasn’t indifference, just an immediate lack of emotion,” he explained. “I think I hadn’t given myself time to process it fully, and since I’d anticipated the release, the shock was somewhat cushioned.”
The basketball practice left no room for introspection.
“I was at my son’s basketball practice, so I had to focus on being a dad,” he said. “I couldn’t wallow in disappointment until after the session; my son has no concept of professional wrestling, and even explaining it would be futile.”
He promptly texted his wife, having warned her days earlier of the expected news. The couple then turned a planned short trip to Finland—where his wife is from—into a month‑long stay.
“After eleven years, the company had become a huge part of who I am,” he reflected. “It was time to rediscover his identity beyond WWE.”
He purchased a bicycle and revisited David Goggins’ memoir, using intense physical challenges as a coping mechanism.
“I push myself to the limit, hoping that physical exertion will reveal who I am beyond wrestling,” he said. “It’s become my method of processing these feelings.”
Real life offered little opportunity for prolonged reflection.
“There are moments when you simply want to retreat, but I couldn’t,” he noted. “I have two children, a wife who must continue her studies, a son with a game the next day, and neighbors I see regularly. Their lives remain unchanged, while mine has shifted dramatically.”
He acknowledged a silver lining: waking each morning without a scheduled WWE commitment.
“The company gave me a constant sense of purpose,” he observed. “I’m still adjusting after only a few months, but I quickly recognized that this isn’t an ending—it’s an opening for new possibilities.”
Crews maintains that WWE could still bring him back if desired. When asked if the door remains open, he affirmed it does, citing his clean record throughout his tenure.
“I strive to leave a positive impression wherever I go,” he said. “I’ve never gotten into trouble or violated any company policies during my eleven years.”
He believes that conduct would be taken into account.
“If WWE were to consider rehiring me, I’d certainly be a strong candidate,” he noted. “I feel the opportunity would exist, but I’m not actively awaiting it with urgency.”
Since his release, Crews has refocused his efforts, completing a master’s degree in sports nutrition and starting a client base that includes Ricochet.
“Initially, I was just trying to figure out who I am beyond wrestling, and those pursuits have become a natural part of my routine over the past few months,” he said. “I’ve become so engrossed that I’ve almost forgotten my wrestling identity, which feels surreal given how central it has been to my life.”
He continues to compete, holding bookings with Dragon Gate in Japan and additional shows. He also returned to TNA using his former independent name, Uhaa Nation, making his debut at Slammiversary in June. Dragon Gate was the platform that launched his career before WWE signed him in late 2014.
“Right now, I’m concentrating on building a post‑wrestling career and ensuring I have meaningful pursuits when my in‑ring days end,” he said. “I don’t intend to wrestle indefinitely, but I can’t idle; I needed an outlet that isn’t as physically taxing as traditional wrestling.”
He missed most of 2025 due to a torn pectoral muscle but returned to action at an AAA taping in November and resumed WWE appearances in January. His final WWE match, a loss to Mr. Iguana at a Main Event taping, aired on the same day he was released. Throughout his career he captured both the United States Championship and the Intercontinental Championship.
