On the February 13th episode of SmackDown, Carmelo Hayes prepared to continue his United States Championship Open Challenge, but the event took an unexpected twist when Solo Sikoa and the MFTs disrupted the scene. This disruption led to the surprising return of Apollo Crews, who had been absent from the SmackDown roster for 13 months. Crews’ comeback immediately grabbed attention, especially in relation to Carmelo Hayes’ ongoing storyline.
Background on Apollo Crews’ Time Away and Current Landscape
Before Carmelo Hayes appeared, there was a brief encounter involving contenders for the U.S. title, including Matt Cardona, a former U.S. Champion eager to reclaim gold, and Apollo Crews, whose last SmackDown match was in January 2025 against Berto. Since that match, Crews’ appearances were limited to six bouts—two in AAA, one in an NXT dark match, and three on WWE Main Event—making his presence on SmackDown this week a significant moment.
Formation of a High-Stakes 5-on-5 Tag Match
When the planned Hayes vs. Ilja Dragunov match was interrupted, Shinsuke Nakamura, who has ongoing tensions with Tama Tonga, joined the fray. Alongside Matt Cardona and Apollo Crews, they aligned to form a team, setting up a five-on-five tag match featuring Carmelo Hayes, Ilja Dragunov, Nakamura, Cardona, and Crews. This alliance introduced fresh dynamics and raised the stakes for upcoming SmackDown storylines.
The Significance of Apollo Crews’ Return After a Decade in WWE
Apollo Crews’ comeback carries extra weight as 2024 marks ten years since he first joined WWE’s main roster, a milestone coming in early April. Despite a career with sporadic spotlight moments, including a prominent run during the 2020-2021 pandemic period where he captured both the United States and Intercontinental Championship within a year, Crews has often been viewed as underutilized. Nonetheless, he remains a respected and enduring figure in WWE, having survived multiple rounds of talent cuts.
Implications for the Future of Apollo Crews and SmackDown Storylines
The return of Apollo Crews introduces a layer of uncertainty and anticipation surrounding his future role in WWE programming. Fans and analysts alike are eager to see how the company plans to leverage his experience and potential after a lengthy absence, particularly alongside talents like Carmelo Hayes, Matt Cardona, and Shinsuke Nakamura. As the upcoming SmackDown episodes unfold, this renewed presence could impact both championship trajectories and tag team rivalries.
A fight broke out between MFT with Carmelo and Ilja, but both Apollo Crews and Zack writer come out to try and help fight MFT #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/AEwKoDUYM8
— Saúl Alejandro (@SaulAlejandr00) February 14, 2026
