A current WWE Superstar with nearly two decades of experience recently paid tribute to the legacy of the iconic actor Carl Weathers, who immortalized one of cinema’s most memorable boxing characters.
Weathers, renowned for his portrayal of the legendary boxing figure Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” film series, peacefully passed away in his Los Angeles home on February 1st, 2024, at the age of 76.
The portrayal of Creed by the legendary actor left an indelible mark on a generation of athletes, including current WWE Superstar Xavier Woods. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Woods revealed his struggles in finding his wrestling persona when he began his career in 2004.
He shared how the character of Apollo Creed, brought to life by Carl Weathers, served as his inspiration during those formative years.
Expressing his gratitude to the late actor for the profound impact on his career, the New Day member wrote, “When I started wrestling in 2004 I had no idea what or who I wanted to be. It wasn’t long before my favorite character, Apollo Creed, became my inspiration. For the past 20 years, I’ve drawn on Carl Weathers for that inspiration, and I just wanted to say thank you. Rest well #Rip.”