This past weekend, WWE axed three superstars from their roster. A couple of females, including Indi Hartwell and Tegan Nox, also made the list. The only male talent who was cut was Baron Corbin.
That ended his 12-year tenure with the company, during which Corbin had seen undesirable lows with intermittent highs. Current SmackDown star Carmelo Hayes, who’s no stranger to the released star, is in the doldrums seeing his former nemesis exit WWE. Speaking to Metro, Melo stated that Corbin actually liked him and even took the former NXT Champion under his tutelage.
Having gained wells of advice from the 40-year-old veteran, Hayes would forever remain indebted to Baron. The two men were involved in a heated rivalry over the NXT title last year. Back then, Corbin went aloof from the main roster for a while to foray into WWE’s developmental brand.
Having done so, the former United States Champion also rechristened his long-abandoned gimmick of the lone wolf. That sucked the bluntness out of him, and the fans couldn’t have asked for more. “Baron (Corbin) was one of the people that actually took a liking to me, and took me under his wing.
He did so much for me, he helped me so much, he gave me so much advice. — I’m forever indebted to Baron Corbin – super talented, and I hate to see him go. ”– Carmelo Hayes… pic.
twitter. com/LfKAjGUK7o— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) November 6, 2024 He did so much for me, he helped me so much, he gave me so much advice. — I’m forever indebted to Baron Corbin – super talented, and I hate to see him go.
Carmelo Hayes via The MetroThe former acting GM of Raw almost upstaged Carmelo for the NXT Championship at NXT: Gold Rush in June 2023. Despite losing, Corbin had won over the WWE Universe. Hayes and Corbin rekindled their beef on the main roster a few months back in May, when they ended up on SmackDown.
RELATED“It made too much sense,” Seth Rollins reveals the moment he decided he was going to marry Becky LynchThat is a fact. — Corbin (@BaronCorbinWWE) November 4, 2024 They duked it out in a King of the Ring qualifier that saw Melo prevail once again over the 2017 Money in the Bank contract holder. An interesting tidbit from Baron’s WWE cut is that the company sent him over for a Netflix shoot six days before he was released.
It was reported by Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful, and Corbin later confirmed it. Carmelo Hayes failed to capture the United States title at Crown JewelThe past few months have been pivotal for Carmelo Hayes in gaining the right footing on SmackDown. This past Saturday at Crown Jewel, the 30-year-old competed in a triple-threat US title match against Andrade El Edolo and LA Knight, who retained the gold.
Andrade, LA Knight and Carmelo Hayes at Crown Jewel [via- WWE]By no means was it an easy payday for The Megastar, as both Hayes and El Edolo had their work cut out. Knight somehow made through and averted a catastrophe. He pinned Carmelo, who was brimming with confidence heading into this bout.
RELATED34-year-old WWE star sends cryptic message on social media amid character change teasesThat being said, the loss might’ve jolted Hayes’ momentum a bit. It’d be interesting to see how he’d bounce back after an unfavorable in-ring debut in Saudi Arabia.
