11-Year WWE Veteran Gone From The Company: “All Things Come To An End. This Is My Time”

A former WWE talent has broken their silence following their departure from the company.

Apollo Crews was one of the 20+ wrestlers who were released from the Stamford promotion on Friday, April 24. Some of the other names on the list included Kairi Sane, Aleister Black, Zelina Vega, and the entire Wyatt Sicks faction.

Crews was signed by WWE in 2015 and added to the NXT roster. Almost a year later, he made his main roster debut on Raw, where he defeated Tyler Breeze.

He remained undefeated over the next several weeks, losing his first match to Chris Jericho on May 23, 2016.

In July, he was drafted to SmackDown. His first title victory came four years later in 2020 when he defeated Andrade to become the United States Champion.

He also held the Intercontinental Championship for 124 days between April and August 2021.

Crews was an unconventional talent who was a tall wrestler and could perform aerial maneuvers. Unfortunately, he also dealt with one injury, which sidelined him for an extended duration, affecting a potential push within the company.

After undergoing surgery in January 2025, he returned at a live AAA Lucha Libre taping on November 22. His final WWE appearance was during the Andra the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 17, 2026. He was released a week later.

Apollo Crews Breaks Silence After WWE Release

Despite his release, Apollo Crews remained upbeat about what the future had in store for him.

Sharing a message on Instagram, the 38-year-old wrote that he was grateful for the 11 years he spent in the Stamford promotion.

Thank you, @wwe, for eleven incredible years. Wow. Eleven years. What an incredible journey. I feel blessed to have had a career in WWE that lasted that long. Thanks to everyone who sent me messages or texts. Even if I didn’t reply, just know I’m grateful.

Throughout my career, I was fortunate to suffer only one serious injury that sidelined me for a significant amount of time. I’ve been lucky to experience many amazing moments during my time with WWE. It’s been a fun ride, and I appreciate everyone who supported me along the way.
To everyone I shared the ring with… thank you.

All things come to an end. This is my time.

Several wrestlers wrote in the comments section about their experience of working alongside him. Nikki Cross, who was also released from the company, praised him for his positive vibes while wishing him success in his future endeavors.