Carmelo Hayes Says He Is Destined For Greatness After 4/26 WWE SmackDown

Carmelo Hayes finished up his time in NXT after losing to Trick Williams couple of weeks ago. He was the first round draft pick during the WWE Draft this week and had a solid showing, after which he declared he is destined for greatness.

On the opening night of the 2024 WWE Draft, SmackDown made a significant choice by selecting former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes. Hayes made an immediate impact by boldly challenging the Undisputed WWE Champion, Cody Rhodes, to a match. Rhodes accepted, setting the stage for an intense main event.

The match lived up to the hype, with Hayes demonstrating his agility, technical skill, and charisma against the champion. Despite his strong performance, Rhodes ultimately emerged victorious, securing the win with his signature Cross Rhodes. However, Hayes’s effort didn’t go unnoticed, as his performance impressed many in the WWE Universe.

After the match, where Rhodes emerged victorious with a Cross Rhodes, Hayes spoke with WWE correspondent Byron Saxton on The SmackDown Lowdown. Despite his loss, Hayes exuded confidence about his future on the blue brand.

Hayes reflected on his debut performance, noting that taking on Cody Rhodes on his first night was a significant challenge, but he was pleased with his effort and the impression he made. He acknowledged that Rhodes is a formidable opponent and the WWE Champion for a reason. However, Hayes felt his showing against Rhodes demonstrated his potential and justified his selection in the first round of the draft.

“I went into this thing, win or loss, I wanted to make that statement. At the end of the day, I know I’m destined for greatness. Going [up] against a guy like Cody Rhodes, WWE champ for a reason. I might not have made it through, [and] I might not have beat Cody Rhodes but I shot from the low go and I hit rim on that. They could’ve picked anybody, there’s a room full of them but [they] came and they picked me second in the first round because they know that Carmelo Hayes is Him.” 

It remains to be seen how Carmelo Hayes will fare on Friday Night SmackDown, as he definitely impressed many with his solid showing. Nevertheless, the Draft will continue on Monday Night RAW next week, so fans are excited for what’s next.

Were you impressed by Carmelo Hayes’ performance on this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!