By Andrew RavensShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberAn engaging social media exchange recently took place on X between AEW star Ricochet and WWE SmackDown superstar Carmelo Hayes regarding the controversial topic of career success timelines in professional wrestling. The interaction began after Hayes posted a highlight clip from his recent match against GUNTHER.
Hayes captioned the video, highlighting his competitive spirit against the dominant champion: “Been a Dawg long before I was an Underdog,”.
Ricochet responded to the post with a satirical comment regarding Hayes’ current trajectory within WWE, applying an excessively long timeline to his main event aspirations.
Ricochet’s specific reference to a "15-year" timeline is a direct allusion to recent comments made by WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry regarding the development of young talent. Henry had recently discussed the career trajectory of NXT wrestler Je’Von Evans (age 21). During his analysis, Henry suggested that there should be no rush to push Evans to the top of the card immediately, predicting that Evans would be in his “championship area” in approximately 15 years.
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The comments from Henry generated significant discussion within the wrestling industry regarding how promotions handle the pacing of a wrestler’s career, with many fans and media outlets criticizing the idea that a talented young star should have to wait until age 35 for their championship prime. Ricochet’s tweet to Hayes appears to satirize this philosophy, implying that waiting a decade and a half to reach the main event level is an excessively long timeline for established talent like Hayes.
...Carmelo Hayes was quick to respond to the jibe with a personal remark targeting Ricochet’s physical appearance, specifically his lack of hair.
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The context of the "15 years" comment also touches upon Carmelo Hayes’ current standing within WWE. Hayes has been a member of the WWE main roster for approximately 18 months. During his time in the developmental brand, Hayes was a central figure and a consistently featured main event talent, holding both the NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship.
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Since transitioning to SmackDown as the third overall pick in the 2024 WWE Draft, Hayes has been utilized primarily as a mid-card talent. While he has had competitive matches against top stars like Cody Rhodes and Andrade, he has yet to headline a Premium Live Event. His tweet referring to himself as an "Underdog" acknowledges his current position on the card, where he is often fighting from underneath against larger or more established opponents.
The exchange highlights the contrasting career paths experienced by wrestlers moving from NXT to the main roster. Ricochet, who departed WWE for AEW in 2024, experienced a similar main roster trajectory, holding mid-card titles like the United States and Intercontinental Championships but never consistently main eventing 'WrestleMania' or holding a world title.
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