Shawn Michaels told 30-year-old WWE star he can "never take a day off"

WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels enjoys his retirement from in-ring competition by building new stars for the company. He oversees its developmental brand, NXT, from which many names have gone on to become notable wrestlers on the main roster.

One of NXT's biggest exports in 2024 was Carmelo Hayes, who joined SmackDown in April. Hayes has made a mark on the blue brand with noteworthy performances. This includes his main roster debut match against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, a pinfall victory over Randy Orton, and a series of highly-praised matches against Andrade.

Speaking on The Takedown on Sports Illustrated, Carmelo Hayes revealed some valuable pieces of advice he got from The Showstopper. Michaels was known for his in-ring efforts, always having the urge to steal the show, which he did almost every time he stepped foot inside the squared circle.

"[Shawn Michaels] told me straight up. He said, ‘Look, because of your size, you can never take a day off. You have to be a little bit better at everything. You have to be’," Hayes said.

The former NXT Champion also commented on his recent rivalry with Andrade, which seemingly culminated last Friday. However, Hayes claimed that it had only ended for one person and that it could continue as a Best of Seven. The two have wrestled five times already.

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Carmelo Hayes broke character to praise Andrade ahead of WWE SmackDown

While touching upon his victory over Randy Orton and learning from his mentor Shawn Michaels, Carmelo Hayes also credited Andrade. He stated that El Idolo is "great" and that he has learned something from each and every WWE veteran he locked horns with.

"I still have a lot to work on. I'm just getting to work with the guys at the highest levels, like Randy, Cody, and even Andrade. Andrade is great. I’ve learned from working with Andrade, but there's still more I have to learn. A lot of my mindset is from Shawn," he said.

Hayes also put a target on LA Knight recently, claiming that it is his "destiny" to become the WWE United States Champion. He also noted how, as it had been for all of the previous holders of the prestigious belt, it is a "perfect first title" and that it is only a matter of time before he is in possession of it.