Carmelo Hayes wants the ball.
Hayes debuted on NXT in June 2021, and he quickly established himself as a rising star on the brand, as he won the Breakout Tournament. Since then, he has won the NXT North American Championship twice. During his reigns, he often referred to himself as NXT's "A Champion", and he now has his sighs set on Bron Breakker's NXT Championship.
Speaking on Out of Character with Ryan Satin, Hayes was asked if he would feel unfulfilled if he didn’t win the title. He noted that he wouldn't feel right saying "unfulfilled", given the success he has already enjoyed. However, he made it clear that he is confident he can be the face of NXT. Hayes also noted that it would be poetic justice if he actually won the title and became the A Champion.
“I feel like it would be selfish for me to say unfulfilled because I’ve done so much, and I’ve gotten to do so much. It would almost be like, ‘Oh, how much more do you need to do?’ But at the same time, I feel like I can do it, so let me do it. I can beat Bron Breakker, and I can be the face of the company, the rightful face of the company, and I can carry the brand, and I can help build this brand further into the next year or whatever it is. So for that reason alone, and all those times I said I was the A Champion, I think it’s only right, it’s almost fate at this point and poetic justice in a way for me to win that title and be the A Champion of NXT," Hayes said.
In a previous interview with Fightful, Hayes described how Shawn Michaels has had to rein him in. Check out his comments here.
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