It has now been months since fans have seen Carmelo Hayes on WWE SmackDown.
This has caused some concern for fans of the former United States Champion on when they will see him back in the company.
Considering his momentum at the start of 2026, it would make sense for WWE to bring Hayes back in the fold in an impactful way.
Here are some potential Carmelo Hayes WWE return plans.
Rekindle rivalry with Trick Williams for the United States Championship
Following WrestleMania 42, Carmelo Hayes stepped up to challenge Trick Williams for the United States Championship.
Ahead of “The Show of Shows,” Hayes was the reigning US Champion until Sami Zayn dethroned him.
Now that Williams is enjoying his second reign with the title, it would make sense for Melo to once again go after the gold he held earlier this year.
Considering their history with one another, Melo returning to rekindle his rivalry with Trick feels like the most logical and likely way to bring him back at some point.
Reunite with Trick Williams to go after WWE Tag Team Championships
However, Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams were most known as a duo for their stint on the NXT brand.
Hayes brought Williams into NXT and worked together to make a name for themselves.
Feeling like he has lost all his momentum, Hayes might be better off if Melo reunited with Trick in a meaningful way.
Trick joining forces with Melo again could see the duo becoming top contenders for The MFTs’ WWE Tag Team Championships.
Unfinished business with Baron Corbin
On the August 14 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, Baron Corbin defeated Carmelo Hayes to retain the United States Championship.
This marked the last time Hayes has appeared on WWE television at the time of this writing.
Feeling like Corbin took his spot, that could be the reason Hayes makes his return down the line.
Melo returning to complete his unfinished business with Corbin would be an interesting way to bring him back.
Get revenge on Sami Zayn by challenging for the Undisputed WWE Championship
On the March 27 episode of SmackDown, Sami Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes to win the United States Championship.
This win led to Zayn going on to WrestleMania 42 to face Trick Williams, while Melo was left off the Mania card completely.
The loss led to the domino effect of Hayes now finding himself with no prominent role on the blue brand.
Now that Zayn is the current Undisputed WWE Champion, Melo could get the ultimate revenge and the biggest win of his career at the same time by challenging “The Last Real Good Guy” for the title in the near future.
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