Apollo Crews has introduced the world to his dangerous new ally who helped Crews to win the Intercontinental Championship from Big E at WrestleMania.
At ‘The Show of Shows’ in Raymond James Stadium, Crews challenged Big E for the Intercontinental Title. With E looking to end the match with his ‘Big Ending’ a giant stormed the ring and attacked the champion. With the match being a no disqualification Nigerian Drum Fight, Crews was able to take advantage and win the title.
The mystery assailant will have been familiar to some fans however as he previously competed under his real name of Babatunde and latterly, Dabba-Kato.
Babatunde’s only televised appearance under that name came at the 2018 Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia. The Polish star joined that match as the 37th entrant before being eliminated by the eventual winner, Braun Strowman.
Babatunde was featured as part of Raw Underground – the ‘Fight Club’ style segment on Raw that was hosted by Shane McMahon. Now known as Dabba-Kato, the behemoth ran throw several competitors before suffering his first loss at the hands of Strowman. The Raw Underground segment was eventually scrapped after eight weeks in September 2020.
WWE released a video on social media of Apollo Crews introducing his new ally. Crews then revealed his name is now Commander Azeez.
Crews said in the short video:
“This is my Commander Azeez. Former member of the Nigerian Elite Guard. And if anybody dares to come for my Intercontinental Championship, you will be annihilated by the Nigerian nail.”
After his #ICTitle victory at #WrestleMania, @WWEApollo tells the entire #SmackDown locker room to beware of Commander Azeez and the Nigerian Nail! pic.twitter.com/JPkwvQrp3b
— WWE (@WWE) April 17, 2021
Apollo Crews began embracing his Nigerian heritage several weeks ago on SmackDown. The star viciously turned on Big E before subsequently revealing his Nigerian accent.