AEW star Ricochet has publicly defended WWE’s The Miz following a social media backlash from Carmelo Hayes. Recently, Hayes has been in the spotlight after an incident on the January 23 episode of SmackDown, where he intervened in a WWE United States Championship match against Ilya Dragunov, blocking Dragunov’s chance at the title. This interference echoed an earlier situation on December 5, when Tommaso Ciampa helped Hayes without another wrestler, Elijah, being aware. Following the match, Hayes took to Twitter expressing gratitude to Montreal and Ilya but ended his message with a sharp remark directed at The Miz, his former tag team partner. While The Miz hasn’t replied, Ricochet, who joined AEW in August 2024 and has faced Hayes before, stepped in to support Miz by tweeting, “You would be nothing without The Miz. Show respect.” Ricochet and Hayes are also set to meet again in the ring for the NXT North American Championship at WWE NXT World Collided 2022.
Fan Take: This cross-promotion drama highlights the intense rivalries and connections that make wrestling thrilling for fans. Ricochet defending The Miz not only adds layers to AEW vs. WWE narratives but also shows respect transcending company lines, which could bring exciting storylines and elevate the sport’s entertainment value.
