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There is a very real chance that a now-iconic NXT star will be leaving WWE's developmental brand and moving to the main roster full-time. Carmelo Hayes, who was part of the former black and gold brand before helping lead the charge for both NXT 2.0 and the white and gold era, is seemingly moving on.
Carmelo went one-on-one with Trick Williams on NXT this past week. The two clashed inside a steel cage, with Williams ultimately standing tall and defeating his former friend. This marks the second time Hayes has been defeated by his former ally.
The two big losses in a row are a clue that Carmelo is moving on from the white and gold brand. The A-Champion sent out a message on social media that seemingly indicates that he is done with NXT.
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Fans naturally assume that Melo is headed to the main roster now. In fact, he could realistically appear on a main roster show as soon as SmackDown this week. This article will take a look at a handful of rivalries awaiting him if he does indeed join the blue brand.
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Below are four feuds for Carmelo Hayes if he appears on WWE SmackDown this week
#4. He has already battled Kevin Owens in the past
Kevin Owens is a major star in WWE. Some fans may not even realize how successful Owens has been. He is a two-time WrestleMania main eventer, a former United States Champion, a former Universal Champion, and beyond. He has done nearly everything there is to do.
There's a chance that Kevin Owens could be Carmelo Hayes' first rival on Friday Night SmackDown. Owens is a top babyface, and Melo could potentially continue his heel act coming out of NXT.
Carmelo Hayes and Kevin Owens aren't exactly strangers to one another. The pair wrestled on the December 15th, 2023, edition of SmackDown. Owens defeated Carmelo after around ten minutes in what was a fantastic match. The two turning that into a full-on feud would be great.
#3. LA Knight could use a new feud if he loses next week
LA Knight is one of the most over wrestlers in the entire world. In WWE, he electrifies audiences as soon as his music hits or he speaks into a microphone. The Megastar has proven himself to be a top star, even if titles evade him at this point in time.
A feud between The Megastar and The A-Champion feels plausible. Knight will likely lose to AJ Styles on SmackDown, which means he won't have a story set up. WWE could pivot by having Knight battle Hayes. The two clashing could be extremely interesting thanks to their very different styles.
The only time LA Knight and Carmelo Hayes battled in a ring before was back in the early days of NXT 2.0. A WarGames Match was held where Team 2.0 featuring Bron Breakker, Carmelo Hayes, Tony D'Angelo, and Grayson Waller, defeated Team Black & Gold with Johnny Gargano, Tommaso Ciampa, Pete Dunne, and LA Knight.
#2. Logan Paul needs a new challenger for his WWE United States Champion
Logan Paul is a unique character. He is an outsider who rose to fame on various platforms outside of pro wrestling. Despite that, he jumped to WWE and has become a natural, even winning the United States Title.
The Maverick is still the United States Champion, as he successfully defeated Randy Orton and Kevin Owens at WWE WrestleMania. Now his next opponent needs to be decided. Carmelo Hayes could step up and be the one to take him on.
While Carmelo and Paul have never clashed, Hayes has had issues with his two flunkies. Hayes has battled both Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. In fact, he's crossed paths with the stars on NXT and SmackDown at various points. Hayes leveling up to fight Paul makes sense.
#1. Rey Mysterio vs. Carmelo Hayes is a dream match
Rey Mysterio is an icon in professional wrestling. He has been wrestling for decades and has had notable runs in Mexico, World Championship Wrestling (WCW), Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW), and World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He is also a former multi-time World Champion.
The WWE Hall of Famer just recently finished up a major rivalry. He had been in a feud with Santos Escobar and Legado del Fantasma. He and Andrade defeated Dominik Mysterio and Escobar at WrestleMania, which seemingly ended their feud.
Looking ahead, Rey could battle Carmelo Hayes in what many would consider to be a dream match. Both men are undersized, yet manage to defy all expectations. Rey is an icon, and Hayes is the future. A feud between them just makes sense.
