Trick Williams Wants to See Carmelo Hayes Get His WrestleMania Moment

The former United States Champion may miss out on the biggest show of the year.

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:38pm

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A cubist, multi-angled painting depicting the dynamic movements and intense rivalry of two professional wrestlers, conveying the high-stakes competition for a coveted WrestleMania match.A fractured, geometric illustration captures the competitive spirit and athletic prowess of two rising WWE Superstars vying for a spot on the WrestleMania 42 card.

Trick Williams, who is set to challenge Sami Zayn for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 42, expressed his desire to see his former NXT tag team partner Carmelo Hayes get a spot on the card. Hayes recently lost the title to Zayn, who then announced he would defend it against Williams at the upcoming pay-per-view. With no match currently scheduled for Hayes, there are concerns he may be left off the WrestleMania 42 lineup despite his impressive title reign.

Why it matters

Carmelo Hayes has been one of the breakout stars in WWE over the past year, capturing the United States Championship and delivering a series of well-received title defenses. Fans have been clamoring to see him get a marquee match at WrestleMania, so his potential exclusion from the card would be a disappointment for many.

The details

After Sami Zayn regained the United States Championship from Carmelo Hayes, Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis announced that Zayn would defend the title against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42. In an interview, Williams expressed his hope that Hayes would still find a way onto the WrestleMania card, citing their history together in NXT and Hayes' strong title reign.

  • Sami Zayn regained the United States Championship from Carmelo Hayes on the March 24, 2026 episode of Friday Night Smackdown.
  • Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis announced the Zayn vs. Williams match for WrestleMania 42 on the same March 24, 2026 episode.
  • Trick Williams appeared on the March 31, 2026 edition of Mornings with Mero on HOT 97 to discuss the situation.

The players

Trick Williams

A WWE Superstar who is set to challenge Sami Zayn for the United States Championship at WrestleMania 42. He has a history of working with Carmelo Hayes in NXT.

Carmelo Hayes

A rising WWE Superstar who recently held the United States Championship, delivering an impressive title reign before losing the belt to Sami Zayn.

Sami Zayn

The current WWE United States Champion, who regained the title from Carmelo Hayes and will defend it against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42.

Nick Aldis

The Smackdown General Manager who announced the Zayn vs. Williams United States Championship match for WrestleMania 42.

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What they’re saying

“Me and Melo, we go way back, of course, and I would love to see him get his moment and he deserves that and you never know, he probably still will. He carried that U.S. Title great, so he deserves his moment. I'm sure he's going to get his moment.”

— Trick Williams

What’s next

With three episodes of Smackdown left before WrestleMania 42, there is still time for WWE's creative team to find a way to get Carmelo Hayes onto the card, whether through a match or some other prominent role. Fans will be watching closely to see if the talented superstar is able to secure a spot on the biggest show of the year.

The takeaway

Carmelo Hayes' exclusion from WrestleMania 42 would be a disappointment for many WWE fans who have enjoyed his recent title reign and breakout performances. While his former tag team partner Trick Williams hopes to see Hayes get his moment on the grandest stage, the next few weeks will determine if the creative team can find a way to get the rising star onto the WrestleMania card.