30-year-old star opens up on his questionable rookie year in WWE

Former NXT Champion shared his thoughts on his first year anniversary in WWE on the main roster.

30-year-old star opens up on his questionable rookie year in WWE

WWE's Carmelo Hayes (via WWE)

WWE has seen the rise of several stars over the past year, including talents who made waves across the globe. One of them is Carmelo Hayes, who made his main roster debut during last year’s WWE Draft. On the occasion of his one-year anniversary on SmackDown, ‘Melo shared his thoughts on his journey as a prominent talent on the blue brand.

Taking to X, Hayes radiated positivity with his heartfelt message. The rising star shared that he never measured his success by titles or moments, but by what he has gained in return. The former NXT Champion highlighted that he wrestled the WWE Champion more than ten times this year, traveled the world with his peers, and had the opportunity to learn from legends and future greats along the way.

Many fans believe that Hayes has not received the spotlight he deserves. Compared to his peers like Tiffany Stratton, Bron Breakker, and Lyra Valkyria, who debuted around the same time as ‘Melo’, they were pushed much more prominently. However, in the words of the 30-year-old, he considers himself a work in progress and a late bloomer, believing that his time will certainly come—maybe not today, but tomorrow.

The former NXT Champion has carved out a unique presence on SmackDown with his performances. His matches against Andrade, LA Knight, and Cody Rhodes helped him build momentum on the main roster. During WrestleMania weekend, Hayes also captured his first accolade by winning the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal.

The Miz gave a special gift to Carmelo Hayes after winning the Andre the Giant Memorial WWE Battle Royal

The Miz has recently taken on the role of mentor for Carmelo Hayes on SmackDown. He has been guiding the former NXT Champion both behind the scenes and during his matches, helping him navigate his way to the top. Now, following Hayes’ victory in the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal, The A-Lister has a special gift lined up for the 30-year-old star.

Carmelo Hayes
Carmelo Hayes (via WWE)

During this week’s SmackDown, The Awesome One gifted Hayes a gold-plated neck chain featuring the face of WWE legend Andre the Giant. Interestingly, the necklace looks quite heavy and could even be used as a weapon if needed. The 30-year-old star looked genuinely thrilled after receiving the gift from a future Hall of Famer like The Miz.

The alliance between The Miz and Carmelo Hayes appears to be growing stronger on SmackDown. Both stars seem to share a solid mentor-mentee bond. It will be interesting to see where this duo goes from here, as The Miz’s experience as a former WWE Champion could prove to be extremely valuable for a rising star like Hayes.

Carmelo Hayes to win the Money in the Bank contract this year?

Carmelo Hayes has been working hard to make his mark on the main roster over the past year, but he is still searching for that breakout moment in WWE. However, 2025 could be the year that changes everything, as WWE might position him as this year’s Money in the Bank winner on SmackDown.

Carmelo Hayes
Carmelo Hayes (via- WWE)

In the past, Money in the Bank has remained a game-changer for several WWE stars. Names like Seth Rollins, CM Punk, Edge, and The Miz all elevated their careers after winning the briefcase. To position Carmelo Hayes as a future main-eventer, WWE could have him win the contract this year, propelling him into the World Title scene.

WWE could give Carmelo Hayes a significant push leading up to the Premium Live Event to ensure he has strong momentum heading into the match. ‘Melo’ has all the tools needed to become the next big star in the company, and Triple H could capitalize on the growing hype surrounding him.

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