“Most criticism I’ve ever faced,” SmackDown star reveals being overawed after facing Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton so early in his main roster journey
One of the fastest rising stars on SmackDown has shared what he learned after being in the ring with Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
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Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton [via- WWE]
Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton are two of the biggest pro wrestling doyens in the world. And if WWE entrusts any newcomer to have a go after those veterans of the game so early like they did with Carmelo Hayes, it means WWE is high on that particular name. Hayes, who scored a pin against Orton in June and put on a clinic with Cody on his first night as a member of the SmackDown roster, revealed what he learned from those experiences.
Speaking with Denise Salcedo, the 30-year-old said he explored so many different levels in the game. Back when Hayes was the NXT Champion, he was at the top of the world. However, once he was drafted to SmackDown, he realized there’s a bunch of men operating at a much higher level than him. That’s what his in-ring experience with Randy Orton and Cody Rhodes taught Melo. Being a first-round draft pick, there was already some added pressure on him.
Making that transition from performing in front of a few hundred fans at the Performance Center to being a part of some of the highest-grossing WWE arena shows has been challenging for Carmelo Hayes. It has even brought the most criticism for him as a wrestler, he stated. But that’s what one gets when he/she is a first-ballot choice for either Raw or SmackDown.
There's really the most criticism I've ever faced in my whole career. But that's OK, that's what you get when you get that first round draft pick label. I've got to work with Cody and Randy and things like that that have taught me that there are so many different levels to this game.Carmelo Hayes via interview with Denise Salcedo
After having a mixed run of fate in his initial months on the blue brand, Hayes has just about found his footing. He’s in the midst of quite possibly the most heated rivalry on SmackDown with Andrade. They’re tied at two matches apiece in a tussle that’s been going on for almost a couple of months now. Next week is expected to be the tiebreaker, as they’re set to go at each other for the fifth time.
Is Carmelo Hayes closing in on his first title on the main roster?
This past week on SmackDown, LA Knight cut a promo. He bragged about the successful US title defenses he’s made so far in just over a month’s time. Knight was interrupted by Carmelo Hayes, and he asserted a claim at the United States Championship.
Before the champ could come up with something, he was cut short by Hayes’ arch-nemesis Andrade. Both men listed down their reasons as to why they should be next in line for the gold.
The segment ended with Knight taking out both El Edolo and Hayes. It appears like next week’s clash on SmackDown between Carmelo and Andrade will determine who’ll get a crack at Knight’s title first.
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Vibhor Pal
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