Carmelo Hayes captured the Andre The Giant Memorial Battle Royal trophy during the April 18 edition of SmackDown. The rising star survived a ring full of competitors to secure what stands as his most significant achievement since joining the main roster.
Hayes outlasted a field that included Shinsuke Nakamura, Pete Dunne, and Rey Fenix, ultimately eliminating Andrade to claim the victory. The battle royal saw numerous elimination sequences unfold before the final confrontation between the two competitors.
Throughout the match, Hayes narrowly avoided elimination on multiple occasions. In a key moment, he countered Andrade’s suplex attempt with a cutter. As the contest progressed to its final stages, only Hayes, Andrade, Fenix, and Nakamura remained. Fenix’s participation ended when El Grande Americano interfered, sending him over the top rope.
The decisive sequence featured Hayes and Andrade squaring off near the ropes, exchanging moves until Hayes successfully sent his opponent to the floor. Following the announcement of his victory, The Miz made his way to ringside to congratulate Hayes, potentially signaling future developments for the battle royal winner.
