Carmelo Hayes triumphed over Ilja Dragunov to claim the United States Men’s Championship, marking his first title victory on WWE SmackDown. Both competitors showcased impressive skill and resilience, exchanging powerful moves throughout the match. Dragunov attempted his signature H-Bomb but was countered by an Enzuiguri from Hayes, who then executed a backward cutter from the middle rope. Dragunov responded with the Constantine Special, a flip maneuver, and a centone, though Hayes narrowly kicked out.
The intense action continued as Dragunov intercepted Hayes mid-air during The First 48 attempt, but Hayes retaliated with a headbutt from the turnbuckle. Dragunov superplexed Hayes from the top rope and slammed him hard, only for Hayes to kick out once again, much to Dragunov’s frustration. Hayes reversed another superplex attempt into a cutter, but Dragunov survived with a near fall at 2.99. On the apron, their battle escalated with Dragunov delivering a Death Valley Driver, followed by a failed Coast to Coast attempt when Hayes countered mid-air with The First 48, securing the win. After the match, Dragunov grabbed the title from the referee and placed the belt around Hayes’ waist, acknowledging his victory.
This marked Hayes’ second challenge for the U.S. Championship since his previous loss to The Miz. Their rivalry traces back to NXT, where Dragunov beat Hayes in 2023 to become NXT Champion. Hayes is no stranger to championship success himself, having held the NXT North American Championship twice and the NXT Championship once.
Fan Take: This victory is a huge milestone for Carmelo Hayes, signaling a new era on SmackDown and adding fresh excitement to the U.S. Title scene. For WWE fans, Hayes overcoming a tough and respected competitor like Dragunov shows his rise as a major star and promises thrilling matches ahead, potentially reshaping the mid-card landscape.
