Carmelo Hayes†WWE SmackDown Segment Sparks Concern About His Main Roster Push

Carmelo Hayes appeared on the October 24 episode of WWE SmackDown with what seemed like a moment to reestablish himself as a breakout singles star. The former NXT Champion cut a babyface promo about trying to get back whatever he lost after his recent feud with The Miz. But just as Hayes began to rebuild his momentum, the segment took an unexpected turn when Kit Wilson of Pretty Deadly interrupted him.

The two exchanged words before setting up a match for SmackDown—one that left many viewers confused about Hayes†trajectory on the main roster. On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer and Garrett Gonzales broke down the segment, with Meltzer offering a blunt assessment of what this booking decision really means for Hayes†standing in WWE. Garrett Gonzales set up the discussion by pointing out how misplaced the segment felt:

“This next segment was not a good example of what youâ€re talking about because Carmelo Hayes came out to do a babyface promo about getting back whatever he lost, I guess, with the Miz situation. And who is he interrupted by? None other than Kit Wilson. And theyâ€re going to have a match on SmackDown, which is probably better suited for Main Event. But that told me where Carmelo is when Kit Wilson of all people is challenging him.â€

Meltzer responded by stressing that Hayes has all the potential to become a legitimate challenger for top WWE stars if the company books him that way. He praised Hayes†promo ability, in-ring talent, and charisma, noting that his height shouldnâ€t hold him back in the modern wrestling landscape.

“Yeah, and Carmelo is another one of those guys who could be that, you know, challenger for them for the month, you know, and be built up for a big match. Heâ€s got the talent and he can talk and everything like that. I mean, obviously, the height works against him. But I think that that mentality—which is less there than obviously under Vince McMahon—is still something that they need to kind of forget about. Because I really sense that the fans donâ€t care at all. They donâ€t care about giants much anymore. And I donâ€t think that, you know, they… if a guyâ€s charismatic—I mean, like Hayes—heâ€s got the potential to be higher.â€

But Meltzer made it clear that pairing Hayes with Kit Wilson sent the opposite message. After complimenting Hayes†upside, he delivered the line that summed up his frustration with the creative choice:

“Yeah, but with Kit Wilson, youâ€re telling everyone that donâ€t take him too seriously.â€

Meltzerâ€s comment reflected a larger point about WWEâ€s tendency to stall rising talent in the midcard rather than letting them break through to the next level. He pointed out that Hayes should be built as a short-term challenger for a top babyface or heel, rather than being placed in low-stakes matches that do nothing for his credibility.

While Meltzer noted that the companyâ€s mindset toward smaller wrestlers has improved since Vince McMahon stepped down, he argued that this segment showed remnants of that old thinking still exist. Fans today, he said, care more about personality and performance than size, making Hayes the kind of talent who could connect strongly with audiences—if booked correctly. For now, though, Meltzer believes this angle shows WWE isnâ€t ready to fully get behind Hayes as a future main-eventer.

Carmelo Hayes may have the talent and the charisma, but his SmackDown booking is telling another story. As Meltzer put it, being interrupted by Kit Wilson “says it all.â€

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.

Do you think hat WWE is wasting Carmelo Hayes†potential? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.

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