WWE Just Saved Carmelo Hayes’ Career

The WWE main roster career of Carmelo Hayes has been a big talking point amongst fans for quite some time, with many considering him being a case of misused talent and an under-appreciated performer. In 2026, with a lack of feuds, opportunities, and screentime, many believed that his WWE career could be on borrowed time. However, in just one night, WWE has saved the career of Carmelo Hayes. The former United States Champion showed up on Monday Night RAW’s October 12 episode, joining forces with Royce Keys, Bronco Nimo, Lucien Price & Jaida Parker to become the newest member of 946, instantly turning his fortunes around.

WWE Has Underutilized Carmelo Hayes

• Hayes has lots of talent and potential to be a big WWE star.
• Hayes’ United States Title reign was cut short.
• He has missed out on WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and other big shows.

Believe it or not, but Carmelo Hayes has been on the WWE main roster for nearly three years, and in that time the only things of note that he’s been involved with is a series of showstealers with Andrade and a reign as United States Champion that ended far too quickly. In that time, he’s gotten over with WWE’s fans and showcased a range of performance as both a heel and a babyface, but has often been left on the shelf, underused, and has failed to climb up the card in any form of significant manner.

Despite a push for Hayes to be featured on major shows, WWE pulled the rug from under his feet on the road to WrestleMania 42 by having him lose the United States Title, and in fact, his last match on a PLE came all the way back at the 2025 Royal Rumble. Opportunities have not come around often for Hayes, leading to fans becoming very frustrating with his handling and booking. With WWE not being shy about releasing talented stars, there was even a belief that he’d be next on the chopping board for the company. Thankfully, his luck looks to have changed thanks to his appearance on the October 12 edition of Monday Night RAW.

Carmelo Hayes Joining 946 Is A Great Booking Decision

• Triple H’s handling of 946 has been great.
• Hayes joining a hot faction is a good thing for his WWE career.
• This is something new and fresh for Hayes in WWE.

In recent months, Royce Keys enlisted the help of the OTM tag team and Jaida Parker from NXT to form a brand new faction, 946. This group has run roughshod on Monday Night RAW, being presented in a unique manner and far more of a real, badass threat than most factions have ever been presented in WWE. They’re gone to war with The Bloodline and Solo Sikoa, taking aim at the most popular and successful stars on the roster. In the main event of Monday Night RAW’s October 12 episode, the group received another new member.

Carmelo Hayes, after three months of inaction, showed up unexpectedly on RAW to join forces with 946, attacking The Usos & Solo Sikoa. He fit in instantly with 946’s aesthetic, seamlessly showcased a brand new personality in just a few minutes, and his arrival was treated like a big deal from the WWE audience, showing just how over he is amongst fans. Hayes has desperately been in need of something fresh for his WWE career, and this is exactly the turnaround his momentum needed. A new character, a new brand, new allies, and new feuds may very well have saved his future.

Carmelo Hayes Will Become A Big WWE Star Thanks To The Bloodline & 946

• Hayes can mix it up with main event talent on RAW.
• He will likely be involved in WarGames, among other big matches.
• Hayes can eventually break out into the main event scene in WWE.

Throwing Carmelo Hayes into the mix with names such as Roman Reigns, The Usos, Jacob Fatu and Solo Sikoa will be invaluable for his career. The feud between The Bloodline and 946 has already legitimized Royce Keys, and it will do the same for Hayes as he continues to battle established and popular stars, being made to look like their equal in the process. It is all but confirmed that Hayes will compete in his first ever WarGames match at Survivor Series 2026 as a part of this feud, and his involvement here will mean that he will be a regular part of weekly television for the foreseeable future.

In one night, Hayes went from a non-factor to a big deal, and if Triple H plays his cards right, this can lead to Hayes eventually breaking into the upper echelons of the WWE ladder.