WWE needs to better protect Carmelo Hayes

WWE has a stacked roster across all its brands. Whether it’s Monday Night Raw, SmackDown, or NXT, there are several stars that stand out each week. One of the names fans are interested in the most is Carmelo Hayes. Hayes was a well-protected success during his run on NXT, but things are quite different since joining SmackDown. WWE Creative needs to be mindful of the situation because many are keeping their eye on how Hayes plays out as a main roster talent.

Carmelo Hayes is a talented WWE superstar. He’s only 30 years old, and he’s already shown all the flashes necessary to be the type of performer WWE builds around for years to come. When he and Trick Williams were thriving in NXT, many thought he had all the tools to be a WrestleMania-main eventer at some point in the future. That assumption is correct, Hayes is really that guy.

But he hasn’t been booked as such since joining the main roster. On January 17 he took on Jimmy Uso in a match that ended in a no contest. A few weeks before that he took on Sami Zayn in a match that ended in a no contest. Two weeks before that Braun Strowman defeated him. Hayes's last on-air victory came against Strowman when Hayes defeated him via countout on December 13. The last pinfall victory by Carmelo Hayes came on September 27 when he defeated Andrade in the sixth match of their Best-of-Seven series. Nearly four months ago.

At some point, WWE Creative will have to adjust how it’s booking Hayes if they want him to keep the perception that he has what it takes to be a main-event star. Losing time and time again does not help a performer’s stock. And it is not like this is a foreign concept in the promotion, look at how well individuals like GUNTHER, Bron Breakker, and Rhea Ripley are protected in the face of all opposition. Hayes doesn’t need the same level of booking at this time, but it would be worthwhile to get him some wins when the lights are shining the brightest. It looks like WWE was going to give Hayes a strong run in the midcard, but that doesn’t seem like quite the priority any longer.

Carmelo Hayes has all the makings to be a top star for WWE and any other promotion in professional wrestling. WWE has his talents under contract and needs to do a better job building him up because right now, he feels like just another name on the roster and that’s a concerning position for him to be in at this point.