Carmelo Hayes is the reigning NXT Champion and set to defend his title against Bron Breakker at NXT Battleground. Hayes has been a staple of NXT since slapping Adam Cole in the face in June 2021. Not only has he been trusted with television time, he's been trusted behind the scenes.
Before Cody Rhodes returned to the ring from his torn pectoral muscle, Hayes and Joe Gacy were asked to help Cody get ready for his in-ring return.
Speaking to Peter Rosenberg and Stat Guy Greg on Cheap Heat, Hayes reflected on working with Cody.
"They had mentioned to me, 'Cody requested to train with you and Joe Gacy in the next week or so.' 'Oh shoot, cool.' Cody had reached out to me two or three times before, just giving me critiques on my work and things like that. I had already had a back-and-forth relationship with him. I had met Cody in the past. I was like, 'All the people that he knows, and he's picking me and Joe Gacy? Okay.' He showed up, and a lot of people are like, 'We helped Cody,' but I learned a lot from Cody in that time working with him. He was fine. He didn't need my help. I just think he needed clearance from medical to go through. We worked for three or four days, we did matches on the fly and were just having fun and coming up with ideas like we have a match. He was helping me on my stuff. It was the little things. I credit Cody a lot. He's like, 'Melo and Joe Gacy helped me,' No, he helped me a lot, actually," he said.
Cody officially returned to the ring at WWE Royal Rumble, entering the Men's Royal Rumble at number 30 and winning the contest by last eliminating Gunther.
Fans can check out the lineup for NXT Battleground by clicking here.
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