Uhaa Nation Didn’t Want To Lose First Post-WWE Match After Losing So Much In WWE

Uhaa Nation (Apollo Crews in WWE) made a surprise appearance in TNA Wrestling at TNA Slammiversary, taking on Mustafa Ali and Rich Swann.

Uhaa was released by WWE in April, but showed up in TNA before his 90 days were up, thanks to the WWE-TNA partnership.

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Uhaa explained how his deal with TNA came together and why he didn’t want to lose.

“The story is pretty interesting. TNA had reached out to WWE because I was still looking at the 90-day non-compete, where you technically can’t wrestle for anybody else. TNA got in contact with WWE. Moose may have been the first one to call me and told me that TNA was looking to bring me in for Slammiversary. My first thought was, ‘I’m in my 90 days. No way that’s going to happen.’ I kind of brushed it off because at the time we were at a resort and taking a staycation. Shortly after that, (Mustafa) Ali called me and presented the same idea. ‘I think they’re trying to get you and me to work at Slammiversary.’ He asked me, ‘The issue is, would you be okay losing?’ At the time, I wasn’t even sure I wanted to wrestle. This was not even a month after the release, and I was still trying to figure things out and how I felt about wrestling. My response was, ‘I spent my whole career losing at WWE. The first thing outside of WWE that I don’t want to do is lose.’ He respected my answer. ‘I respect that. I would’ve said the same thing.’ I get a call from Moose shortly after that. ‘They’re saying you don’t want to do the match.’ I said, ‘I didn’t say that I didn’t want to do the match. I just said that I don’t think that I want to come in there and lose after losing literally every single match since before I tore my pec.’ The last time I won, I think, was the last match before I tore my pec when I wrestled Gargano. I ended up winning that match. That was February 2025. Eventually, what they ended up doing was the three-way where I didn’t take the pin. ‘We want you to come out here and have a good match.’ Talking to my wife, I thought it would be something good. I thought I needed that opportunity where the spotlight would be on me again. I always enjoy performing. I love being the focus for that moment,” he said.

Uhaa last singles victory in WWE happened on AAA TV in November 2025.

“The match ended up happening. I kind of took my vacation after that, and I’ve booked some things here and there, but wrestling hasn’t been the center focus of my life. I’m glad I got that opportunity because we went out there and I got to work with two studs and two amazing human beings. I really enjoyed what we got to do and it was nice to get that internet pop and be talked about again,” he said.

Swann took the pin in the triple threat match, which was won by Ali, but Uhaa has not been back in TNA since.

Elsewhere during the interview, Uhaa discussed his WWE release. You can find his full comments here. 

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