Booking Ideas to Boost Luke Harper, Apollo Crews and More WWE Superstars

Luke Harper and Apollo Crews don't have much in common in terms of physical appearance, in-ring style or gimmick, but they can certainly relate to each other as two of WWE's most misused stars.

Harper hardly appears on SmackDown these days.

He's a dark figure pushed far into the background. He's a fearless, overpowering warrior treated like roster filler.

As for Crews, at least he's getting airtime.

But WWE is getting his story all wrong. His partnership with the Titus Brand could be the foundation of a strong narrative, not the cheap bit of comedy that it is right now.

Clearer direction for their characters, higher quality feuds and better booking overall could turn both Harper and Crews' careers around in short time. The same goes for Emma, Rusev and Cedric Alexander.

The following is a look at the potential directions WWE could take with these Superstars, offering narrative paths to rejuvenate them, to allow them to tap into more of their potential.

Apollo Crews

Titus O'Neil can be Crews' ticket to catching fire, but not without some major changes in their storyline. 

At the moment, being a part of the Titus Brand has zero benefits for Crews. He hasn't started winning at a better rate. He hasn't performed better or received any tangible rewards.

WWE would be smart to have O'Neil began to cheat for Crews and for his cheap shots behind the referee's back to lead to Crews going on a winning streak.

Announcers can point out how cheap his victories are, but Crews won't care. He'll start to get addicted to the feeling of winning. His head will swell to massive proportions. We should see a vain, attention-hungry showboat emerge. 

This will give Crews a clearer character and give him some momentum in the process. 

Rusev

WWE set the table for a Rusev return when he began to threaten SmackDown Commissioner Shane McMahon. The Bulgarian Brute demanded a title shot at Money in the Bank. It's clear now that won't happen.

Jinder Mahal has taken his spot.

That must be the catalyst for Rusev to grow furious. He has to feel overlooked and underappreciated, and that frustration can carry him forward narrative-wise.

At first, Rusev can ruin matches he's assigned by getting disqualified on purpose or beating his opponents senseless before the bell even rings.

When McMahon challenges him, he can grow angrier. Rusev should become an uncontrolled force, creating a whirlwind of destruction. Tuesday nights should showcase him attacking jobbers, threatening announcers and tearing apart ringside equipment.

That would set up a match between him and McMahon. And when Shane O'Mac fails to take down the baddie, he'll have to enlist the help of one of the blue brand's babyfaces like Sami Zayn.

Emma

When Emma recovers from her shoulder injury and returns to Raw, she needs to be a force within the women's division.

She's alluring and dangerous, cocky and compelling. Her heel persona fits her snugly, and she is a steady performer in the ring but has often been an afterthought.

A feud with Sasha Banks would help change that and be beneficial for both wrestlers.

Banks should win a No. 1 contender's match against Nia Jax, Alicia Fox and Bayley to set up a title match against Alexa Bliss. An enraged Emma would then attack her backstage and injure her.

To explain herself, Emma would talk about always being forgotten. She'd gripe about not being in the No. 1 contender's match, about not being talked about as a pioneer of the women's revolution.

"I'm going to make you and everyone else remember me," Emma could tell The Boss.

After Banks squeaks by her in that rivalry, Emma should grow more paranoid and have her persecution complex grow worse. She would berate her foes mid-match, telling them how great she is. 

The deluded heel could then craft her own women's title a la the FTW Heavyweight Championship from ECW and start calling herself the champ.

Cedric Alexander

Alexander's WWE run started off shaky because there was too much focus on his love life.

His relationship with Alicia Fox grew more developed than his character. And he was hampered by the soap-opera feel of his storyline.

The North Carolina native should instead set his sights on Neville and the Cruiserweight Championship. The journey to becoming the No. 1 contender would be a means to show off his heart, for him to prove himself.

He can issues open challenges each week, saying he wants to take on all comers to earn a crack at the gold.

Some of the current 205 Live stars can answer, but some of the wrestlers who competed in the old version of the cruiserweight division can as well. Alexander can fend off tough challenges from guys like Lance Storm or Psicosis.

He could produce some fun matches and stir up nostalgia, all while padding his win-loss record. It would be the Bizarro version of Heath Slater getting stomped on by various legends ahead of Raw 1000. 

Luke Harper

Harper can thrive as SmackDown's silent and mysterious protector.

He can be a steady presence on the show by playing its white knight from the backwoods. When Aiden English is beating on his foe after the bell, Harper can come charging in with fists at the ready. When The Ascension surround and threaten a jobber, Harper can chase the duo off with wild swings of a steel chair.

This would give Harper a constant entryway into the show each Tuesday. It would allow him to avoid speaking as much and focus more on fisticuffs.

Harper's cavalry duties could easily be the spark of new feuds.

He can begin by angering and then toppling English. Eventually, he can work his way out to Kevin Owens. Harper would be a great fit in the United States Championship picture.

And KO is sure to do some dastardly deeds to draw out SmackDown's violent hero.