Carmelo Hayes, the former NXT Champion just drafted to SmackDown, made a splash by challenging the Undisputed Champion Cody Rhodes! Known for his charisma despite his size, Hayes recently revealed the tough advice he received from wrestling legend Shawn Michaels.

Hayes on Facing the Odds Against Rhodes

Throughout his career, Hayes faced criticism for his smaller stature. However, he overcame this by working hard and benefiting from the guidance of NXT head Shawn Michaels.

In a recent interview, Hayes shared some of the advice Michaels gave him: “Shawn Michaels told me straight up, ‘You can never take a day off. Most guys can slack off sometimes, but you can’t. You always have to give it your all.'”

Hayes continued, “It can be tough, but I accept the challenge. Because of my size, people expect more from me. I can’t afford to make mistakes.”

Hayes also recently won his first-round match in the King of the Ring tournament! Fans are excited to see how far he’ll go.

This early victory is a testament to Hayes’ hard work and Michaels’ valuable mentorship. It will be interesting to see if Hayes can maintain this momentum and overcome the size-based challenges throughout the tournament, proving his doubters wrong and solidifying his place on SmackDown.