Add as a preferred source on Google Carmelo Hayes got the attention of WWE fans with a cryptic post on his X account Friday night. No caption — just a photo of Stephen Curry sitting on the Golden State Warriors bench looking visibly frustrated.
The post went up during the final Friday Night SmackDown before SummerSlam. Hayes didn’t explain the image, but the timing got fans talking about where he stands in WWE right now.
Hayes had been working his way back into the United States Title picture. On a recent SmackDown, his match with champion Trick Williams was thrown out as a no-contest after Baron Corbin returned and laid out both men.
Not long after, Corbin took the challenger spot and got the title shot at SummerSlam instead.
— Carmelo Hayes (@Carmelo_WWE) August 1, 2026
That’s a big part of why the post got the reaction it did — Hayes was left off both nights of the show. His last match aired on Main Event, where he beat Ricky Saints, while Williams and Corbin kept their program going on SmackDown.
Hayes was also off the WrestleMania 42 card, this after spending the first few months of 2026 as United States Champion. His last PLE match was the 2025 Royal Rumble.
The post doesn’t confirm anything backstage, but it adds to the questions about where Hayes fits in the company.