Summary

Carmelo Hayes said he is approaching his WrestleMania 42 absence by staying ready and trusting that he can deliver whenever the opportunity comes.

Hayes had appeared to be on course for a WrestleMania spot before losing the WWE United States Championship to Sami Zayn on March 27. He then failed to regain the title on the April 3 episode of SmackDown, leaving him off the card while Zayn moves on to defend the championship against Trick Williams at WrestleMania 42.

With WWE already fielding some fan debate around the event, as seen in Triple H addressing criticism ahead of WrestleMania 42, Hayes being left without a match has become part of that conversation as well.

Quote from Carmelo Hayes

Speaking while appearing on Nightcap, Hayes said:

"I feel like I stay ready, and knowing that I'm talented enough that if they give the ball, it's guaranteed. That's what my mentality has always been. Success is not earned, it's given. I feel like that's a lot in WWE. Anybody, really. Until they give you the ball, how do you know who can score? Until they put you on the field, how do they know that you can make a play? That's really what it comes down to with what we do, waiting for the ball or to put you in."

What Hayes missing WrestleMania 42 says about his spot

Hayes' comments underline that he sees this less as a question of confidence and more as a question of opportunity. WWE has kept him in the United States title mix recently, but the immediate WrestleMania direction now centers on Zayn and Trick Williams instead.

That leaves Hayes in an interesting position coming out of the weekend. If WWE wants to keep him near the top of the midcard, the next move after WrestleMania will matter, because being close to the title picture is not the same thing as being part of the final card.

Sources

Carmelo Hayes while speaking on Nightcap