Carmelo Hayes Wins WWE United States Championship
Match Summary: Ilja Dragunov vs. Carmelo Hayes – WWE United States Championship
This text details Carmelo Hayes’ victory over Ilja Dragunov for the WWE United States Championship, ending Dragunov’s 63-day reign. Here’s a breakdown of the match and surrounding information:
Key Takeaways:
* Winner: Carmelo Hayes – New WWE United States Champion.
* Loser: Ilja Dragunov – Ended his reign after seven accomplished defenses.
* Match Style: A very physical and hard-hitting contest, characterized by a relentless exchange of strikes (chops, forearms, kicks) and suplexes. Both competitors showed exhaustion as the match progressed.
* Match Highlights:
* Dragunov dominated early wiht stiff strikes and suplexes.
* Hayes mounted a comeback with innovative offense like a springboard clothesline and La Mistica.
* both men countered each other’s signature moves (Dragunov blocking the H-Bomb, Hayes avoiding finishing sequences).
* Dragunov nearly retained with a chokeslam and Death Valley Driver.
* Hayes won by capitalizing on a missed coast too Coast attempt, hitting his “First 48” followed by “Nothin’ But Net”.
* Sportsmanship: Dragunov displayed respect by personally strapping the championship onto hayes after the match.
* Dragunov’s Reign: He issued weekly open challenges and successfully defended the title against notable opponents including Tommaso Ciampa, Johnny Gargano, Axiom, JD McDonagh, and Aleister Black.
In essence, the match was a brutal and competitive battle that ultimately saw Hayes overcome the dominant Dragunov with a well-timed and decisive finish.