Carmelo Hayes was one of NXT’s biggest stars, but has yet to find himself at the top of WWE‘s roster. He recently spoke about what he thinks of his current status in the company.
Hayes, a former WWE United States Champion, moved to the main roster in 2024. He has faced stars like Cody Rhodes, but he has yet to break out as a major player.
Speaking to Huge Pop Radio recently, Hayes discussed his experience on the main roster. He also recalled a story that Paul Heyman told him about how he’d have to work his way up the proverbial lineup.
“Yeah, it’s definitely a learning experience and a growing pain,” Hayes said. “And I’m super excited and happy about my future and my position and I’ll put it like this, Paul Heyman kind of smartened me up a couple of weeks ago and he said to me, he goes, ‘Look –’ he’s like, ‘You’re batting a thousand.
“The only problem is you’re batting eighth.’ He says, ‘If you look at the landscape –’ if you look at the landscape and — Shawn (Michaels), everybody’s told me the same thing. It’s stacked! There’s so many top guys right now, there’s so many big stories and elements and things that are happening right now. Just for me to be even to be able to mix it up with those guys in between is a huge honor and a pleasure and something that I look forward to as well. A lot of people, and Jimmy (Korderas), you know we’ve talked about it with the win and loss thing, we’ve seen it.
Carmelo Hayes: I’m Right In The Mix
Hayes went on to note that people might question his win-loss record, but he was putting on great performances with top stars. He stated that his stock has been going up, and he was on the sideline and ready to go.
“A lot of people are questioning that and at the end of the day, I’m going out there and I’m having hella performances with former world champs and former WrestleMania main eventers and my stock is growing little by little,” Carmelo Hayes said. “Even being drafted first round, I think that projection wasn’t so much so, hey, he’s gonna be world champ tomorrow. I think that projection was, hey, this is gonna be a player in a couple of years that’s gonna be making big plays for us.
“So, you know, everything that’s happened since I got to main roster has been right on time and timing is everything and it’s inevitable that, you know, championships and big moments but, you got those core eight, those big top eight right now, top nine, 10 even, you know what I mean? That are in position but, I’m right there on the sideline ready to go. Give me that push and I’m in there and I’m right in the mix so… I’m ready to play.” (H/t POST Wrestling)
Hayes is set to face Randy Orton on the March 14th episode of WWE SmackDown.
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