Several WWE Superstars, including Drew McIntyre, Rhea Ripley, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair, have successfully transitioned from NXT to the main roster over the years. Recently, the former WWE NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes reflected on the challenges he faced during his transition to the main roster.
Hayes enjoyed a successful run in NXT from 2021 until 2024, before being drafted to WWE SmackDown in April. Before making the jump, Hayes got wrapped up in a heated rivalry with his best friend, Trick Williams. The two stars headlined WWE NXT Stand & Deliver, where Williams secured a victory. Their rivalry culminated in a steel cage match on the April 16th edition of WWE NXT. This match marked Hayes’ final match in the brand before his main roster debut.
Upon his arrival on SmackDown, Hayes had a standout match against Cody Rhodes. Although he lost, Hayes made a positive impression with his first match on the main roster. Over the next few months, Hayes continued to deliver impressive performances in the King of the Ring tournament and qualifying for the Men’s Money in the Bank. However, Hayes shared his perspective on the challenges he has faced since coming to the main roster.
Carmelo Hayes reflects on moving from NXT to WWE main roster
Carmelo Hayes recently discussed the transition of his former best friend and rival, Trick Williams, to the WWE main roster during an appearance on Gorilla Position. Hayes expressed uncertainty about what Williams could accomplish. He reflected on his journey from NXT to SmackDown and talked about the challenges of adapting to a new environment.
The wrestling star stated, “I don’t know what he can do on the main roster because it’s yet to be seen… When I got here, it was a whole brand new thing for me. I had to figure it out on my own, so that’s yet to be seen. It wasn’t easy and it’s still not easy.” Hayes highlighted the fact that he is still in the process of getting accustomed to everything.
Carmelo Hayes shared his perspective about the challenges of adjusting to WWE’s main roster. Nevertheless, his recent matches against Andrade on WWE SmackDown have garnered significant praise from fans.
