Carmelo is HIM, the rise of the next top star.

WWE is always looking for its next top star, and often it has fans divided on who should be "the guy." After watching WWE content for 3 hours on Monday, 2 hours on Tuesday, and 2 hours on Friday, one man stands out the most. Carmelo Hayes answers, "Who is the next top guy?" Carmelo has it all, the look, the personality, the in-ring work, and he cuts terrific promos. All that, and he's only 28 years old, which means he has yet to hit his prime; he's getting better every day and growing and expanding his game regularly. When Carmelo debuted on June 1st and faced KUSHIDA, you knew Carmelo was an exceptional talent and would have big things in his future. He continued to build momentum by coming out and challenging Adam Cole to a match, and despite losing, Carmelo shined brighter than any star. Finally, Carmelo was given his shot when we competed and won the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament! Carmelo went on to win it all and used the contract he won to face Isiah Swerve Scott for the North American Championship, and on that night, he claimed gold for the first time! That North American title reign was the greatest NXT title reign of any era. Carmelo had banger after banger defending that championship in showstopping fashion every single time, defeating men like Pete Dunne, Johnny Gargano, Rodrick Strong, and Cameron Grimes. He would later lose the title in a ladder match. Still, he would win it back, start a second reign, and continue dominating the mid-card scene defeating stars like Nathan Frazier, Giovanni Vicci, Grayson Waller, Tony D'Angelo, and Ricochet. He has nothing left to do in NXT besides winning the NXT championship. Carmelo is the perfect man to end the reign of Bron Breaker because he has all the tools to succeed and, more importantly, is talented enough to be the face of the brand and carry it into the new era. Carmelo has proven he is the best in-ring competitor in NXT and one of the fastest-rising stars in WWE. The man can't have a bad match and is the most dependable star NXT has on a bigger stage with a more intense microscope the world will see

I already talked about his dazzling in-ring skills, but there is so much more to Carmelo Hayes than his wrestling. The way the man walks and talks screams megastar, and his entrances alone get all eyes on him. It says quite a bit about his showmanship of Hayes that from the second he walks out; he becomes can't miss television. From his grand entrances to the lighting and pyro, they give him the main eventer vibe he deserves. He carries himself like a star, acts like a star, and dresses like a star; there is a reason Melo doesn't miss. Another impressive part of Carmelo's game is his work on the mic; you want to listen when he speaks. He oozes charisma when he speaks. Carmelo speaks with conviction because he believes he is the best and steps into the ring every week to prove it. The man makes everything feel like a big deal just because his swagger makes it a big deal. He had the greatest North American title reign and made that championship feel like the most important thing in WWE for a long time. The little things impress me when it comes to Melo; calling himself the "A Champ" is such a good detail because he controls how people perceive him! Calling himself the A champ makes people believe it even if they don't see the match. He builds his reputation and then smashes it in the ring, raising the bar each time. Carmelo has the rare ability to get reactions from the crowd as a babyface or a heel. That's a trait we rarely see in wrestlers. Hayes has all the tools to be the top star of WWE, and investing in Carmelo Hayes is a genius move because of his age and skill set. Carmelo has drawn comparisons to Shawn Michaels, and to be compared to a living legend and one of the best to do it is one heck of a compliment. Many superstars get under the bright lights of the main event spot and flounder, but Carmelo Hayes does not do that; Melo performs his best when all the cards are on the table, and the lights are their brightest if WWE plays their cards right and makes the correct decision they can have a top guy for the next 10+ years.