Backstage Note On Apollo Crews Not Competing At WWE Extreme Rules

Apollo Crews Not Cleared To Compete In United States Championship Match

Apollo Crews did not work Sunday’s WWE Extreme Rules pay-per-view event. WWE announcer Tom Philips stated he did not pass his pre-match physical and was unable to appear on the show to face MVP for the WWE United States Championship.

Although the exact reason behind his absence is unknown, Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite (Subscription Required) noted on his Extreme Rules recap show that Apollo Crews was not at the WWE Performance Center today.

WWE staff were alerted prior to the show that he was not cleared to compete, and no further details were provided.

“What they stated on the PPV was legitimate, in that he was not cleared to compete, however they said he failed his pre-show medical, that was not the case, he was not there at the Performance Center all day. Those who worked on the show, when they were given the plan for what was going on, they were told Crews was not cleared to compete. I don’t have anymore than that as we record this, I don’t know if it was a health issue, I don’t know if it was a legitimate injury, all that was said was Apollo Crews was not cleared to compete, and he will not be here today, and he was not there at the Performance Center at all today.”

Apollo Crews was last seen on the June 29 episode of RAW, suffering defeat to MVP in a non-title match. Following the match he was attacked by Bobby Lashley, which in storyline is the reason behind his injury.

MVP declared himself the new United States Champion during Extreme Rules, since Apollo Crews was unable to compete.

.@WWEApollo being unable to compete has @The305MVP and @fightbobby like…#ExtremeRules pic.twitter.com/rTKubp3709

— WWE (@WWE) July 19, 2020

Ahead of Sunday’s pay-per-view Apollo Crews did multiple interviews hyping his match against MVP. During those interviews there was no indication that match was not happening.

As more details are known, an update will be provided.