Carmelo Hayes & Trick Williams Explode At NXT Vengeance Day

For months, NXT fans have watched on uneasily at Carmelo Hayes and Trick Williams, and at Vengeance Day, the worst finally happened.

Carmelo Hayes is a former NXT Champion but when he lost that title to Ilja Dragunov at No Mercy in September 2023, something inside him seemed to change. Hayes’ long-time friend and partner Trick Williams began to really find his feet on the brand at the same time which only seemed to add to Hayes’ woes.

In October, Williams was put in a number one contender’s match for the NXT Title alongside Hayes, Dijak, and Baron Corbin. However, Williams was attacked backstage before the bout by a mystery assailant and Carmelo Hayes picked up the win but was unable to dethrone Dragunov for the gold at Halloween Havoc thanks to a returning Williams.

However, the friendship endured – albeit uneasily – and the two men entered the Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic despite Williams being granted an overdue NXT Title shot against Dragunov at Vengeance Day – the same show that the Dusty Classic would also conclude.

Carmelo Hayes Whoops That Trick

At NXT Vengeance Day, Williams and Hayes took part in the final of the Dusty Classic against Baron Corbin and Bron Breakker. Ultimately Breakker picked up the win for his team after decimating Hayes with a wicked spear. Bron Breakker looks set for an imminent call-up to the WWE main roster after this victory.

Later in the night, Williams attempted to win the NXT Title from Ilja Dragunov but was unsuccessful. Carmelo Hayes came down to the ring to commiserate with his partner as the credit graphic was shown on the screen – but this is NXT and you know better than that.

Hayes clipped Williams’ knee before going to town on him with a steel chair before referees could get him to stop the assault. With the turn finally happening, it seems a one-on-one match between the two men is inevitable for NXT Stand & Deliver and that could very well be Hayes’ last match on the white and gold brand’s roster as he appears to be set for a future on SmackDown.