Add as a preferred source on Google Dave Meltzer criticized WWE’s handling of Trick Williams after SummerSlam.
Williams lost the United States Championship to Baron Corbin on Sunday in his SummerSlam debut. Lil Yachty tried to stop Corbin from using the title, but Williams accidentally knocked Yachty through a ringside table. Corbin then hit Williams with the belt and followed with End of Days to win.
Reviewing Night 2 with Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer said Corbin carried most of the match and argued that WWE had “fumbled the ball completely” with Williams. Meltzer said Williams needs more careful booking and the right opponents, pointing to Carmelo Hayes and Ilja Dragunov as examples.
“He’s never come across less like a star since the day he stepped into WWE and since the midpoint of his NXT run when he started really getting hot than he did today.”
Is WWE fumbling the ball with the booking of Trick Williams?
— Wrestling Observer (@WONF4W) August 3, 2026
"He's never come across less like a star since the day he stepped into WWE and since the midpoint of his NXT run when he started really getting hot than he did today."
– Dave Meltzer https://t.co/pVYNIG1yTo pic.twitter.com/FuptgzWLLa
Williams captured the U.S. title from Sami Zayn at WrestleMania 42 and retained against Zayn at Backlash and Ricky Saints at Night of Champions. The SummerSlam result ended his first championship run on the main roster.
Corbin returned on July 10 SmackDown during Williams’ non-title match with Hayes and laid out both men with End of Days. Corbin attacked Williams again two weeks later before challenging him to the SummerSlam title match.