That's because The Shield were three talented young men who were going somewhere. They had "it." You can't compare them to Apollo Crews.
Y'all try too hard to make everything about race and yes the pro-wrestling industry is racist, but this isn't one of those situations. Apollo Crews is just boring. Outside of workrate, what else does he have to offer?
he has workrate AND the look AND he can do stuff that you rarely see people his size pull off. especially in the WWE where hes a unicorn.
basically a much more athletic version of brock lesnar & bobby lashley.
im inclined to believe that it is racist, because if I was describing a guy with white skin, he'd be world champion already.
Depends on who's decision it is to just have him smile all the time like he's just happy to be there.
"black folks always gotta show their teeth"
Do not lie to me and tell me you saw Stunning Steve Austin as wrestlings next big deal in WCW, ECW or as the Ringmaster in WWF. No one did. He was a talented mid card guy who never got a shot.
stunning steve was a future main eventer in wcw before the Hogan regime came in.
his pre-stone cold years get down-played in hindsight.
in just 3 years, he did everything you could do in the mid-card. US title run, tag title run as part of a legendary team, one of the more memorable TV title runs, was the #2 guy in one of the goa stables. ask the real beautiful bobby. he was involved first hand with a couple of these examples.
Deep down I know
meanwhile Heath Slater and the Usos have a new leash on life. 
though. He ain't been appealing since before he cashed in his MITB.
