Carmelo Hayes

If there's one thing you need to know about Carmelo Hayes, it's that he is HIM. Hayes is already in the pantheon of NXT legends by becoming the first Superstar in history to win the Cruiserweight Championship, North American Championship and NXT Championship in their career. Debuting in June of 2021, the dynamic Hayes hit NXT with strong efforts against the very best, including Adam Cole and then-NXT Cruiserweight Championship Kushida. Hayes punctuated his 2021 campaign by winning the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament, a win that catapulted him to the top of the roster. As a former two-time North American Champion, Hayes has victories over the likes of Johnny Gargano, Butch, Ricochet and Bron Breakker, cementing himself as one of NXT's best. He made history by defeating Breakker at NXT Stand & Deliver 2023 to become the NXT Champion for the first time in his career. Hayes became the first-ever NXT Superstar to be drafted by SmackDown in the first round when he went #3 overall to the blue brand in 2024.