Carmelo Hayes says getting onto the WWE main roster has been a learning experience for him.
The former NXT Champion was called up to WWE during the 2024 WWE draft. He was a first-round draft for Smackdown, showing how highly Triple H values him going forward.
He has been in some huge matches already, including in the Money in the Bank ladder match. However, it has not all been plain sailing for Carmelo Hayes.
Carmelo Hayes spoke to Denise Salcedo ahead of Bash in Berlin. He was asked about the transition from NXT to WWE, and how he has managed making the jump.
The former NXT Champion revealed it has been a “learning experience”, noting how much criticism he’s had since the move. Carmelo Hayes also noted that wrestlers like Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton have taught him a lot since leaving NXT.
” It’s definitely been a learning experience. You know, I had been talking about making that transition, especially coming in as a first-round draft pick, where all eyes are on you. You know what I mean? There’s really been the most criticism I’ve ever faced in my whole career, but that’s okay. At this time, that’s what you get when you get that first-round draft pick label. If you want to be him, you open yourself up to that type of criticism.
But really, it’s just about upping my game to the next level. There are so many guys out there, like Cody [Rhodes] and Randy [Orton], who have taught me that there are so many different levels to this game—levels I would have never known if I wasn’t in the ring with those guys. So, it’s been an amazing process, and I’m just getting started. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.”
