Hayes touched on the social media reaction to the moment.
After the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft night one wrapped up, making his way to the ring was the third overall pick, former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes.
He stepped up to Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes and they had a singles match in the main event. There was a point during their match when they both went for a springboard move. As Hayes was coming down, Rhodes was going off the ropes and went past Hayes.
The clip made the rounds on social media. While on The Ringer Wrestling Show, Hayes addressed it:
I mean, I think it’s wild that people thought he (Cody Rhodes) was gonna catch me with a Cody Cutter in mid-air. If you see what it was… we both do a springboard move. He’s got the Disaster Kick, he’s got the Cody Cutter, I’ve got a couple of different things. I tried to catch him, he tried to catch me but he wasn’t fast enough to catch me and I ducked underneath and then I came in and I capitalized. I think people romanticized and grandeur-rized what it was… I didn’t even really address it truthfully and I know Cody could care less. But, at the same time it’s like, fans think that they know so much and they’re not in there with us, they don’t know what we’re attempting to do and just sit back and enjoy the show. I’m watching it, I’m like, ‘Oh! He was throwing for a touchdown.’ Whole time, he was just trying to get a completion. It’s never what people think it is so I mean, that was what that was. But, I mean hey, that would’ve been great if he could’ve got me in a Cody Cutter… Not (great) for me. It would’ve been great for Cody.
Next up for Hayes is the King of the Ring tournament. He’ll be facing Baron Corbin in the first-round. The SmackDown side of the King of the Ring tourney is listed as follows:
- A.J. Styles vs. Randy Orton
- Baron Corbin vs. Carmelo Hayes
- L.A. Knight vs. Santos Escobar
- Angelo Dawkins vs. Tama Tonga
If the quote in this article is used, please credit The Ringer Wrestling Show with an H/T to POST Wrestling for the transcription.
