Carmelo Hayes on Money in the Bank, the NXT-WWE transition, and more

WWE superstar Carmelo Hayes is a burgeoning commodity. The upstart from New England may have been earmarked for success early in his NXT career. That prediction didn’t exude entitlement so much as it did a desire to meet those expectations. To set new heights and further the imagination. Hayes had sensational matches in NXT, whether in Florida or big arenas nationwide.

Everything changed for Hayes this past Spring. Smackdown selected Hayes in the 2024 WWE Draft. A move for Hayes signaled a call-up to the ‘big leagues.’ He’s already gotten his feet wet, having competed with Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes on an episode earlier this Spring. Then, with a spot in the Money in the Bank Ladder Match on the line, Hayes pinned 14-time World Champion and future Hall of Famer Randy Orton to punch his ticket to Toronto.

Ahead of Hayes’ appearance at WWE Money in the Bank , The Comeback sat down with the 29-year-old sensation.

How has life on Smackdown treated you since the Draft?

It’s been great. But at the same time it’s been a learning curve. Going into all these different venues and pretty much reintroducing myself to a whole new audience. You see that Smackdown does 2 million-plus viewers every week. Now I’m being put in front of a whole new audience, and a lot of these people are seeing me for the very first time. So I’m trying to reestablish what a lot of people in NXT and people that have been watching me for the last couple of years already know.

That’s a good point. I think that a lot of people, a lot of times—that transition from the NXT to the main roster. I think a lot of people maybe underestimate how much of a challenge it is. So, has that really been the biggest difference between NXT and the main roster?

Absolutely. I think you’re 100% right, it’s just a reconnection. At the same time, not just people at home but the people in the venues and the arenas. That they’ve never seen, a lot of casual people that come to these WWE shows. They have their favorites and these guys have that have had equity for years and years in WWE. And then, here comes these new guys coming in. First impressions mean everything. So it’s constantly making a good first impression every single week. It’s not just the first time on TV, it’s every single week at this point. Until I’ve built up enough equity, but sometimes with a lot of people can take years. And multiple loops around the circuit of each venue. One time, then they kinda get to know you. Then you do another time, then they’re more familiar with you. Sometimes it takes a year or two years to get to that.

Who, if anyone, has helped you out and given you advice?

It’s been all the guys that I’ve been working with. I’ve been so lucky; as soon as I got up there, working with Cody. Working with Randy, working with those types of guys. On top of that, Hunter, taking the time to give me a little bit after every match. Give me a little bit of promo, just kinda give me something. Obviously, William Regal is up there all the time. Always giving me something. Working with some of those producers. It’s really kind of, you’re getting thrown to the wolves. It’s the land of sharks in a lot of ways. You’re up there with the big boys. So nobody’s holding your hand. You’re kinda making mistakes and figuring out as you go. It’s not, ‘Hey come here, let me explain it.’ It’s kinda like, ‘get ’em next time.’ Everyone’s helping, but it’s like kind of self figuring out as well.

Where’s your excitement level for Money in the Bank?

I’d say I’m more focused than I am excited. Don’t get me wrong, it’s exciting. But at the same time, that excitement consumes my mind. I allow myself to really be present in the moment. The quality of talent that’s already in this match is so high. So it’s really anybody’s game. So many people are trying to predict who it’s going to be. And it’s gonna be such a difficult prediction. I plan on being the one who’s gonna take it, but you can say that about anyone in the match.

I guess you can’t prepare for a match like this, but how do you prepare yourself for a match like this? Where it’s like organized chaos?

Just understanding your opponents. That’s why I say it’s hard to prepare… but once I get a good idea of who I’m in the ring with, I get a good idea. I understand what’s gonna be the challenges I might have the face. The ladder is a ladder and that’s something–you can’t predict that. It’s just chaos. The one thing I can do is be prepared by understanding who I’m in the ring with and what everybody’s strengths are, and what their weaknesses are.

Why will we see Carmelo Hayes win the Money in the Bank briefcase?

I’m looking at it at a completely different angle. I think a lot of guys are so focused on the briefcase, but I’m not so much focused on the briefcase as I am the other people in the match. I’m gonna wait for somebody to make a mistake, somebody to slip, and I’m gonna capitalize. You saw what I did with Randy on Smackdown this past week. He made a mistake and I capitalized. And people can be upset about it, but he looked at me and gave me the thumbs up because he would do the exact same thing.

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