Carmelo Hayes Hints at Classic U.S. Title Design After Championship Win – Carmelo Hayes has sparked speculation about a possible throwback championship look after capturing the United States Title on the December 26 episode of SmackDown. Hayes secured the win by pinning Ilja Dragunov, ending Dragunov’s 70-day run with the belt and marking a major milestone in Hayes’ main roster rise.
The conversation began when a fan resurfaced Hayes’ 2023 comments about the United States Championship. At the time, Hayes mentioned that if he ever held the title, he would consider bringing back the iconic spinner version of the belt. After his recent victory, the fan reposted those remarks on X, and Hayes replied with a single emoji—enough to get fans talking about whether he might follow through on that idea.
The spinner design has a strong legacy in WWE history. Introduced by John Cena in 2004, the belt featured a rotating center plate and became closely tied to Cena’s “Doctor of Thuganomics” era. Its return would be a notable callback to one of WWE’s most recognizable championship looks.
Hayes’ connection to Cena extends beyond the belt’s history. He recently took part in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament, created to determine Cena’s final opponent. Hayes reached the quarterfinals before being eliminated by GUNTHER, who later defeated Cena in his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event.
Following Hayes’ title win, Triple H publicly congratulated him and hinted at what may come next. “The year isn’t over until the bell rings,” he wrote. “Congratulations @Carmelo_WWE on becoming the NEW United States Champion. Big things on the horizon.”
With the Royal Rumble approaching on January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Hayes enters the new year with momentum—and fans are watching closely to see whether the spinner belt makes a comeback.
Carmelo Hayes Hints at Classic U.S. Title Design
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