A title change took place during a recent “WWE SmackDown” taping, and it’s a big spoiler for the blue brand’s final episode of 2025. Fans inside the Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan saw another WWE United States Championship open challenge match. This time, Ilja Dragunov could not retain the gold, as Carmelo Hayes has won his first major singles title on the main roster.
Dragunov had been the WWE United States Champion since October. He defeated Sami Zayn in his return from injury to capture the title for the first time in his professional wrestling career. Dragunov’s reign had been heavily praised in terms of match quality.
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Camelo Hayes Gets His Moment
Hayes has been gaining steam in recent weeks, with fans on social media calling for him to be elevated on the card. Fans of the “SmackDown” brand have taken a liking to Hayes, and it led to the former NXT Champion turning babyface. With Hayes’ stock continuing to grow, many have already shared a positive reaction to Hayes getting his moment in the spotlight.
Despite the aforementioned praise for Dragunov’s run, the popular belief is that Hayes’ title win could be a shot in the arm for “SmackDown.” Bodyslam first reported that WWE was aware of the need to freshen up the blue brand creatively and from a main roster standpoint. Several other reports revealed that main roster call-ups from the “NXT” brand would be imminent.
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