Carmelo Hayes isnt just getting love from fanspeople backstage in WWE are backing him as well. Following his U.S. Championship win during the tapings for the December 26, 2025 edition of WWE SmackDown, Hayes is earning real respect behind the curtain.
According to WrestleVotes, the reaction backstage to his title win has been nothing but positive. When asked during a recent Q&A about how people backstage felt about Hayes big moment, WrestleVotes revealed:
Hayes won the United States Championship after answering Ilja Dragunovs open challenge. Dragunov, who had carried the legacy of the open challenge tradition made famous by John Cena, declared that the series of open title matches was endingonly to then face Carmelo in a high-stakes match.
The match ended with Hayes capturing the title, and Dragunov personally placing the championship around Hayes waist in a symbolic passing of the torch, making it clear it was Hayes time to shine.
The win marked a major milestone for Carmelo Hayes on the main roster, and based on the internal response, WWE may be positioning him as one of the top breakout stars heading into 2026.
Do you think Carmelo Hayes is ready for a big-time run as U.S. Champion? What did you think of his match with Ilja Dragunov? Drop your thoughts in the commentswe want to hear your take.
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