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WWE’s NXT brand has undergone a dramatic shift in recent months. Gone are the likes of Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano, and Tommaso Ciampa. It’s a new field of up-and-coming superstars on Wednesday nights, led by Bron Breakker. With his multiple NXT Championships and appearances on Monday Night Raw, Breakker appears destined to leave for the main roster very soon. So who should replace him as the face of NXT? There is only one answer. It’s Carmelo Hayes.
Hayes Made A Big Impact On His Debut
Hayes debuted on NXT in the summer of 2021, with not one but two impressive matches against the company’s elite talent. On June 1st, he answered NXT Cruiserweight Champion Kushida’s open challenge. He lost of course, but the goal had been met. Carmelo Hayes had been put in a marquee match right out of the gate and had showcased what he could do against one of the best wrestlers around.
As a reward, three weeks later Hayes stepped up to Adam Cole, the biggest star on the show, in a moment that reminded us of the historic encounter between Kurt Angle and a debuting John Cena from twenty years ago. Carmelo Hayes would lose this match as well, but he put on a great performance. More than that, he stepped up to the plate pre-match with a great promo that drew direct attention to Cena’s debut. When Cole came out, trashing the likes of Samoa Joe and Kyle O’Reilly, it was Hayes who appeared, screaming, “RUTHLESS AGGRESSION! Yeah, same energy,” in Cole’s face before slapping him. To put Hayes in such a big spot meant that WWE saw something in him. Just as big, he looked like he belonged.
RELATED: 10 Things You Need To Know About Carmelo Hayes
Hayes Led The Way As The North American Champion
His moment only grew when Carmelo Hayes was crowned the winner of the NXT Breakout Tournament. In an era of transition, to have that title put upon him christened Hayes as one of the faces to lead the way into new territory.
That became undoubtedly clear when it was followed up by Hayes beating Isaiah “Swerve” Scott to become the NXT North American Champion. He had now positioned himself as the number two guy on the whole show, cementing that spot with victories over the best on the brand in Gargano, Pete Dunne, and in a match that unified the North American Championship with the Cruiserweight Championship, Roderick Strong.
Hayes lost his title to Cameron Grimes in a five-way ladder match at NXT: Stand and Deliver during WrestleMania weekend. This was not a demotion, however. With rumors of Bron Breakker’s call-up to the main roster, having Hayes lose his current title was the only way to push him farther up, readying him to be the next in line to be the NXT Champion.
RELATED: Carmelo Hayes Ends Isiah 'Swerve' Scott's Reign As NXT North American Champion
Someone Has To Take The Torch Bron Breakker Has Carried
The signs are all there for Carmelo Hayes to be the next face of NXT. Breakker is beyond ready to move on. Behind him are the likes of Grimes, Santos Escobar, Grayson Waller, and Solo Sikoa, but none are as ready as Hayes. None offer what Hayes can.
Hayes checks off every box on what makes a WWE superstar. He has the look. He has the talent. He has the charisma and mic skills. His work with Trick Williams has shown that the duo can work as both heels and faces, as singles stars, and as a tag team too.
In a world where white guys still dominate most of the wrestling world, Hayes is the rare Black star who is not only part of the show as a dependable talent, but a potential main eventer for now and a decade to come. Hayes has that indefinable quality, the “it” factor that draws your eye to the screen and makes you ask, “Who’s that?” You see it when he picks up the mic. You see it when the bell rings.
You see it in little things, like when he ripped AEW’s The Acclaimed in a savage Twitter burn. When Max Castor jokingly teased Hayes for stealing the team’s hand gestures, Hayes replied with, “Damn, I didn’t know this was your thing. I don’t watch the YouTube show.” Ouch. That was a Becky Lynch-level burn. Tapping into more of that on social media will only make Hayes that much bigger.
The time is coming as it always does in NXT when one class moves up and the next comes in to take its place. There are many in NXT ready to take their place as the next stars of the future. For Carmelo Hayes, he belongs at the top.
