Carmelo Hayes Says SmackDown Star Helped Him Through WWE ‘Low’ Points

United States Champion Carmelo Hayes has recalled a SmackDown star helping him through “low” periods of his WWE career.

Prior to winning the WWE U.S. Title from Ilja Dragunov in December 2025, Carmelo Hayes teamed with and feuded against The Miz – with “The A-Lister” being the catalyst for Hayes’ babyface turn in the Fall.

Speaking with Good Karma Wrestling, Hayes peeled back the curtain and expressed his appreciation for The Miz, detailing some crucial advice he received from the two-time former Grand Slam Champion.

Hayes said:

“He’s necessary, if that makes sense. He’s a necessary person to have around.

“I remember at one point, despite whatever we have on storyline wise, I just said, ‘Thank you bro for being here, I’m so happy you’re here.’ I just had to tell him that, I was like, ‘I’m just so happy I’m here and you’re here at the same time and I’m getting to learn from you.’

“Because there’s a lot of times where I was feeling low. Like I don’t know what’s going on and the only person that’s been able to explain it to me has been The Miz, because he’s been high, he’s been low, he’s been in the middle. He’s done it so many times.

“He gave me a great quote, some advice, he said, ‘When you’re at the top it’s gonna be easy because you figured out how to manage at the bottom.’ I was like ‘Dang, that’s so true.’ He was like ‘Yeah just wait, everybody gets a turn.’ In a way, not everybody gets their turn but when you’re good you’re gonna get chosen at some point right?”

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Hayes will get a break from defending his United States Championship during this Friday’s episode of SmackDown, with “HIM” instead taking on Trick Williams and Damian Priest in an Elimination Chamber qualifying match.

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