Vince Russo is taking aim at WWE’s championship booking — and he’s using Carmelo Hayes losing the United States Title as the latest example of what he believes is a long-running problem inside the company.
The criticism came after Sami Zayn defeated Carmelo Hayes for the U.S. Championship, a result that sparked debate about Hayes’ momentum and future direction. While reacting to the match outcome on The Coach and Bro show, Russo made it clear his frustration wasn’t just about Hayes — it was about what he sees as a pattern in WWE’s handling of champions. Russo explained that his perspective comes from years of writing wrestling television, where he says championship belts are supposed to serve one clear purpose — elevating talent to the next level.
“When you put a belt on somebody and when they are wearing that belt, the objective is to promote them and make them more valuable. You put that belt on them to build them and take them to the next level to elevate them.”
From Russo’s point of view, the bigger issue is what happens after a wrestler loses the title. He argued that instead of continuing to push former champions forward, WWE often sends them right back to square one — undoing the momentum that the title win was supposed to create.
“We have seen them put a belt on and off so many people, and the minute they take that belt off, that person is right back where they started. I can sit here and I could rattle off a thousand names to you.”
That’s when Russo specifically called out Carmelo Hayes, adding his name to the long list of wrestlers he believes have experienced the same issue.
“Just add Carmelo Hayes to that name. They do it all the time. You are supposed to be elevated when you win a belt. They never do that.”
The reaction taps into a broader conversation among wrestling fans about how championships are used in modern WWE storytelling. Many viewers see titles as career-defining milestones, but critics like Russo argue that frequent title changes and short-lived pushes can weaken a wrestler’s long-term value.
Carmelo Hayes, widely seen as one of WWE’s rising talents, became the focal point of Russo’s frustration because his title loss came at a time when some fans believed he was gaining traction. To Russo, that shift felt like another missed opportunity to build a new star instead of resetting momentum.
Whether fans agree with Russo or not, the debate over championship booking remains one of wrestling’s most talked-about topics, especially when rising talents lose momentum after title runs.
Do you think WWE does a good job elevating champions after title wins, or do you agree with Vince Russo that momentum often gets reset too quickly? Drop your thoughts in the comments and share your take — your feedback helps keep the conversation going.
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