Carmelo Hayes is enjoying the fruits of a career trajectory that, by his own admission, wouldn’t have materialized without a crucial early vote of confidence from a wrestling legend. Just over five years after joining WWE on , the current United States Champion credits WWE Hall of Famer Shawn Michaels with recognizing his potential when many others might not have.
In a recent interview on the “Beyond The Bell” podcast, Hayes detailed how Michaels, the showrunner of “WWE NXT,” saw something special in him almost immediately. Hayes recalled early matches at the WWE Performance Center where he was still finding his footing as a performer transitioning from the independent circuit. “Shawn’s the one that took a chance on me,” Hayes stated. “I’ll never forget the first time we had these little matches in front of the PC where I just got to WWE, and I was still, like, indie, you know? And Shawn…I never forget, he was sitting there. It was the first time we performed in front of Shawn, and I had never really even talked to him or nothing. He’s sitting there, he’s watching, and I guess he says to somebody like, ‘Oh, we got a couple of winners here…’”
That initial observation prompted Michaels to advocate for Hayes to then-WWE executive Paul Levesque (Triple H). “He goes to Hunter and was like, ‘Hey. You gotta watch this kid.’” This early endorsement proved pivotal, setting Hayes on a path to becoming one of NXT’s most decorated and now, a prominent figure on the main roster.
Hayes’s ascent wasn’t simply about being noticed. it was about Michaels understanding his ambition. The first substantial conversation between the two occurred in an unexpected setting – outside a bathroom. “He put me in a match against Kushida for the Cruiserweight Title, for my debut…I get to the back, Shawn’s coming out, and I hadn’t really talked to Shawn for real. He’s coming out of the bathroom, and I bumped into him,” Hayes recounted. “He’s like, ‘Oh, you know, I just want to say good job. You have, I don’t know, whatever they call it…’It.’ I told him straight up, ‘Look, I don’t want to be one of these ‘205 Live’ guys. I want to be a main eventer here…’ and he said, ‘I see that for you, too.’”
Michaels’s belief in Hayes wasn’t merely lip service. He provided opportunities that allowed Hayes to showcase his abilities and refine his craft. Hayes seized those opportunities, ultimately achieving a unique feat in NXT history. He became the only wrestler in the brand’s history to hold the Cruiserweight Championship (now defunct), the Men’s North American Championship (twice), and the NXT Championship. This versatility and success underscored the accuracy of Michaels’s initial assessment.
The culmination of Hayes’s hard work and Michaels’s faith came this past December when he defeated Ilja Dragunov to capture the United States Championship. While the match aired on tape delay, the victory represented a significant milestone in Hayes’s career, solidifying his position as a top-tier competitor within WWE. The win over Dragunov was particularly noteworthy, marking a significant achievement after years of dedication and development within the WWE system.
Hayes’s story is a testament to the importance of mentorship and recognizing potential. Michaels, a decorated performer himself, saw in Hayes a raw talent and unwavering ambition. By taking a chance on a relatively unknown wrestler, Michaels not only helped launch Hayes’s career but also demonstrated a keen eye for talent that continues to shape the landscape of WWE. The relationship between the two highlights the often-unseen dynamics within professional wrestling, where a single endorsement can alter the course of a career.
The current United States Champion’s journey from performing in front of a small audience at the Performance Center to main eventing major shows is a compelling narrative of perseverance and opportunity. Hayes’s willingness to articulate his goals, combined with Michaels’s willingness to listen and provide a platform, created a synergy that has propelled Hayes to the forefront of WWE’s talent roster. As Hayes continues to build his legacy, he will undoubtedly remember the pivotal role Shawn Michaels played in his rise to the top.
Hayes’s success also speaks to the effectiveness of the NXT system as a developmental platform. The brand, under Michaels’s guidance, has consistently produced stars capable of competing at the highest level, and Hayes is a prime example of that success. His story serves as an inspiration to aspiring wrestlers hoping to follow a similar path, demonstrating that hard work, dedication, and a little bit of faith can go a long way in the world of professional wrestling.
