Carmelo Hayes may not be getting the push some fans want on WWE television, but behind the scenes, there doesn’t appear to be any heat on him at all.
During a Fightful Select Q&A, Sean Ross Sapp was asked exactly how Hayes is viewed backstage in WWE. According to Sapp, he’s never heard anything negative about Melo from people inside the company. Instead, the words that keep coming up are dependable, professional and loaded with potential.
“I’ve never heard anything about him being viewed negatively backstage. He’s always been referred to as dependable, professional, and with a lot of upside.”
That’s a pretty strong endorsement for somebody whose booking has had fans scratching their heads. Hayes has shown he can connect with crowds and deliver in the ring, but WWE still hasn’t fully pulled the trigger on him as a major main roster player.
Sapp believes part of the issue is WWE simply waiting too long with certain talent. When somebody spends enough time outside the main event scene, fans eventually start seeing them that way whether the potential was there or not.
“I think WWE definitely waits too long to pull the trigger on a lot of talent to their full potential, which is why people can develop longtime perceptions of wrestlers not being main eventers.”
There’s also a difference between how Hayes was positioned in NXT and where he stands now. Sapp noted that Melo was a favorite of Shawn Michaels during his NXT run, but that doesn’t automatically mean Triple H has him sitting in the same spot on his own list.
“He was a favorite of Shawn Michaels in NXT, but that doesn’t always translate to being one of Triple H’s favorites.”
So when it comes to Carmelo Hayes backstage, the word is good. He’s viewed as professional, dependable and someone with plenty of upside. The real question isn’t whether WWE likes him — it’s when they’re going to turn that confidence into something bigger on television.
Do you think WWE should be doing more with Carmelo Hayes right now? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments.
