Summary

Carmelo Hayes looked back at his NXT run and said the brand’s crowd can quickly shift support to whoever is hottest in the moment.

Speaking on the Battleground Podcast, Hayes said NXT fans can help raise a performer’s profile, but can also turn when momentum moves to someone else.

From 2021 through 2024, Hayes built one of the strongest resumes of that era in NXT, including a Breakout Tournament win, one NXT Championship reign, two NXT North American Championship reigns, and a run as the final NXT Cruiserweight Champion.

Quote from Carmelo Hayes

"That crowd is wishy-washy, even still to this day. They’re never yours. They’re who’s hot in the moment, and I knew that and I understood that and it was one of those things where I had even did a promo with Trick (Williams) where it’s like they love you on the rise and then when it’s (the) next guy’s turn, they’ll switch on you, and that’s the truth. That crowd, they’ll make you but they’ll also break you."

Hayes, NXT, and the SmackDown follow-up

Hayes is now established on SmackDown, and his comments frame NXT momentum as temporary leverage, not guaranteed long-term support. That matters for his next stretch on Fridays after his recent United States title program with Sami Zayn, where staying visible week to week is key to remaining in the upper-card mix.

Sources

As reported by Fightful.