Carmelo Hayes lost the United States Championship and missed a planned WrestleMania moment. That setback could lead to a major reunion with his former partner, Trick Williams, on WWE SmackDown.
What happened on SmackDown
On the April 3 episode of SmackDown, Sami Zayn beat Carmelo Hayes to win the United States Championship. Hayes had already lost the title to Zayn earlier, and the second loss kept Hayes off the WrestleMania card.
The episode also featured a controversial reveal unrelated to Hayes, which drew most online attention. Still, fans were upset about Hayes being left out of WrestleMania 42, where he could have faced Trick Williams.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| Carmelo Hayes | Lost United States Championship to Sami Zayn; lost again on April 3 SmackDown |
| Sami Zayn | Defeated Carmelo Hayes to win the United States Championship |
| Trick Williams | Scheduled to face Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42 |
The Trick Melo story
Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams were top stars in NXT as the Trick Melo Gang. Hayes had years of indie experience before WWE. Trick came from a football background and signed with WWE in 2021. Together they won titles and had strong fan moments in NXT.
On SmackDown, both men have grown in different ways. Trick has become a major character, and fans sing his entrance chant. Hayes found new life as a singles star after moving away from his earlier role with The Miz. His fan support grew after he won the United States Championship the first time.
What could happen at WrestleMania 42
Trick Williams is booked to face Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42 for the United States title. Fans want Trick to win. With Hayes left off the show, there are two clear possibilities.
One option is to add Hayes to the match and make it a triple threat. The other is a classic reunion spot: Hayes could come to the ring during the title match and attack Zayn, helping Trick win. Either choice would bring back the Trick Melo Gang dynamic to the main roster.
Fan reaction and what comes next
Fans reacted strongly when Hayes lost and was left out of WrestleMania. Many feel a reunion with Trick would fix Hayes’ momentum and give both men a big story on SmackDown.
Hayes has a chance to change character direction after recent setbacks. A return to the Trick Melo style—promos, backstage scenes, and tag moments—could boost both performers without ending their singles runs.
Report: UFCcoverage
