A former WWE Friday Night SmackDown star has returned to NXT to attack Apollo Crews during WWE NXT Vengeance Day! The premium live event was one of the first major events for WWE NXT now that it has gone on tour around the world again, so it had a lot to prove with fans as it was also the kick-off event for the year overall. One of the most promising matches on the card was actually the only non-title match schedule as Carmelo Hayes and Apollo Crews were on the verge of playing 2 of 3 falls. Then we got something even bigger.
As the match between Hayes and Crews neared its conclusion, former WWE SmackDown star (and Monday Night Raw for a brief stint) Commander Azeez returned to the match and eventually saved Apollo Crews from Trick Williams who interfered with a chair. But in the end, this led to Hayes winning the match with both a submission and a full pin after all, and it turns out that’s probably what Azeez already wanted to happen.
Is that…?
What just happened?!#WWENXT #VengeanceDay pic.twitter.com/rklgoTk1T4
— WWE (@WWE) February 5, 2023
What does Commander Azeez want with NXT?
Azeez (it has yet to be confirmed if he will go by this moniker, or the previously established Dabba-Kato as seen on his debut with Raw Underground) returned to NXT during Vengeance Day and had saved Apollo Crews from Trick’s involvement Williams with a chair. But at the same time, he didn’t stop Hayes from winning in the end. The reason why quickly becomes apparent when Azeez hugs Apollo in the middle of the ring as a way of comforting his former compatriot after his loss.
It is soon revealed that Azeez no longer wants to align with Crews as he attacks him soon after. Now it remains to be seen what Azeez will be called not only in the future, but what this means for his future in the brand in general. The two have been sneaking onto NXT’s roster for a while now, and it looks like Crews’ next few weeks will be booked up as he and Azeez need to work things out.
What do you think about this former SmackDown and Raw star returning to WWE NXT for Vengeance Day? What do you hope to see him do next? Let us know all your thoughts about it in the comments!
