WWE Is Dropping the Ball on Their Most Underrated Superstar

It’s a strange time for WWE SmackDown compared to what’s going on with Raw. While the red brand is building itself around fresh talent, the blue brand continues to depend almost solely on aging veterans. Every Friday, it’s Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Randy Orton, and Sami Zayn on repeat. Sure, Trick Williams is getting attention, but fans have shown their frustration over the likes of Jordynne Grace and Blake Monroe not getting used, and Ilja Dragunov disappearing so completely that he chose to walk away when his contract ended. They’re not the only ones being undervalued despite having immense talent. Triple H and TKO are completely wasting Carmelo Hayes.

Carmelo Hayes Was Once the Face of WWE NXT

• Hayes wrestled for years on the indies as Christian Casanova.
• He became the NXT Champion with Trick Williams by his side.
• He led NXT as both a babyface and a heel.

When Carmelo Hayes arrived in WWE, he wasn’t a newbie learning on the job. Hayes came to wrestling’s top promotion already as a seven-year veteran on the indies as Christian Casanova. Still in his 20s, Hayes quickly became a breakout star in NXT, not only because of his superior in-ring talent, but because of the cocky charisma which made him so compelling on the mic.

In time, with Trick Williams as his sidekick, Hayes rose all the way to the top of NXT, becoming an NXT Champion and thriving with whatever he did, no matter if he played a beloved babyface or a despicable heel. As WWE began a new era under Triple H, it seemed like Hayes was going to be a huge star on the main roster.

Carmelo Hayes Has Disappeared From SmackDown

• Hayes was stuck in a horrible tag team with The Miz.
• He beat Ilja Dragunov to become the United States Champion.
• Fans wanted to see Hayes and not Sami Zayn take on Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42.

Carmleo Hayes has been on SmackDown for nearly two-and-a-half years, but he still feels relatively new thanks to the constant stop and start of his WWE career. Everytime Hayes gets some momentum, he disappears and seems to start all over again. Things started off well for Carmelo. His first SmackDown match was against Cody Rhodes. Even though he lost, it showed that WWE thought highly of the former developmental champion. But then came a lot of losses and an awful pairing with The Miz, which made the cocky Hayes look weak and went against his character.

WWE finally got it right with Carmelo Hayes at the end of 2025 when he beat Ilja Dragunov to win the United States Championship. Fans responded to the new titleholder, only to watch him lose it in March 2026 to Sami Zayn. We really wanted to see Trick Williams vs. Carmelo Hayes at WrestleMania 42. WWE went with Zayn, leading to fans booing the veteran. Meanwhile, Hayes was forced to watch from the sidelines. He’s continued to have more stops and starts since then, and casual fans are starting to forget him. If WWE isn’t putting a wrestler on TV on a consistent basis, they’re telling the audience they don’t care about them. Outside of the outcry from the more dedicated base on social media, most fans will simply move on to someone else.

Few Superstars Have the Talent and Charisma of Carmelo Hayes

• Hayes is both a great wrestler and talker who works well as a sports entertainer.
• At 5’10”, Hayes is shorter than most top WWE superstars.
• Triple H is wasting Carmelo Hayes’ wrestling career.

It’s frustrating to see so many great wrestlers not being used. For some, you can try to find a reason which makes sense. Ilja Dragunov is a top-notch in-ring wrestler. He wasn’t the best talker though, didn’t have a catchphrase, and didn’t feel like a sports entertainer. The same goes for Jordynne Grace. That’s not Carmleo Hayes. He’s the best of both worlds. He thrills in the ring and excites in promos. He has the charisma and catchphrases and the aura to be a top star. However, instead of rising, he has to watch as Trick Williams rises while he stays stagnant.

So just what is Carmelo Hayes missing? Hayes might be a great wrestler and entertainer, but he’s also just 5’10”. Whenever he’s in the ring with an opponent, he’s the smaller guy. Could it be so simple as Triple H looking at Carmelo on TV and not liking the size difference? It’s certainly how Vince McMahon operated. If Hayes was 6’4″, it’s easy to imagine him being a world champion main eventer. Still, wrestlers like Bryan Danielson and AJ Styles are 5’10” too and they’re both all-time legends.

Whatever is wrong, it’s not Hayes’ fault. He has shown what he can do, and he’s doing the best with what he’s given. Today, he’s still only 32 and could be a top star in WWE for years. Triple H needs to act fast though and stop wasting his most underrated superstar. If Hayes was released, it’s easy to see him having great success in AEW. He shouldn’t have to. WWE is better suited for him. Fans have responded to him and would again. There is no reworking of his character that needs to be done. All he needs is to be given the ball. He is HIM and Melo don’t miss.