Carmelo Hayes is one of the hardest-working talents on the current WWE roster. He has been delivering great performances consistently on SmackDown week after week. Despite his active presence on the shows, he has been consistently overlooked. Two weeks ago, Hayes was involved in the United States Championship picture with Trick Williams. Just when it looked like he would be involved in the title picture at SummerSlam, WWE robbed him.
The company booked Trick Williams vs. Baron Corbin for the United States Title at the upcoming spectacle, thrusting Carmelo Hayes in the backseat. It was not the first time he got snubbed from a PLE. The 31-year-old was neither featured at WrestleMania 42 nor at Night of Champions when he was actively involved in the US Title picture. In fact, Melo has not competed in any premium live events in 2026, raising serious questions about his booking.
Here are three reasons WWE snubbed Carmelo Hayes again ahead of SummerSlam:
Carmelo Hayes was embroiled in a heated feud with Trick Williams and the two superstars were supposed to kick off a title feud around SummerSlam. However, the unexpected return of Baron Corbin on SmackDown changed everything. It completely altered the trajectory of the United States Championship picture. WWE immediately capitalized on Corbin's return by positioning him as a monstrous heel challenger for Williams at SummerSlam.
And this sudden narrative shift therefore sidelined Carmelo from the immediate championship picture. It is a clear indication that the company is currently treating Baron Corbin's homecoming as a major attraction. WWE seemingly wants to capitalize on his red-hot momentum by giving The Lone Wolf a stand-alone moment with Trick Williams at SummerSlam. Hence, this could be the reason why WWE's priorities shifted from Hayes to Corbin.
Trick Williams and Carmelo Hayes share a rich history that dates back to their days in NXT. However, the two superstars barely scratched the surface on SmackDown when they started to feud. Their storyline has the potential to deliver fireworks and light up the mid-card division if tapped properly into their rich history. Therefore, WWE may be saving a full-fledged singles feud between Williams and Hayes for another major premium live event.
Their history carries immense narrative weight and it deserves a stand-alone spotlight. Putting Carmelo Hayes in a Triple Threat Match with Trick Williams and Baron Corbin was an option, but it could have diluted the emotional stakes of their future singles showdown. Hence, holding back a singles clash match between Hayes and Williams from the SummerSlam card suggests that WWE is intentionally preserving it for a future PLE.
The biggest reason why WWE snubbed Carmelo Hayes again is the way management perceives him. Despite his amazing in-ring ability and charisma, Triple H has consistently treated Hayes as a reliable mid-card workhorse rather than a top-tier star. He has been working as an enhancement talent on the roster, delivering great performances and elevating other superstars. However, when the time comes to book Melo on a PLE, the creative team hesitates.
Carmelo's recent booking indicates that WWE does not rank him as a top-tier draw in the men's division. This perception has been pretty evident in prior booking patterns such as his omission from WrestleMania 42 and his absence from Night of Champions. Leaving Melo off the SummerSlam card highlights that the company views him as a secondary player. Triple H seemingly perceives Hayes as an enhancement talent who could elevate other superstars.
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