Carmelo Hayes talks ahead of first-ever WWE match against Randy Orton

The ‘King of Drop’ is all ready to take on ‘The Viper’

The time for chatting is almost up. Former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes is slated to face Randy Orton in the quarterfinals of the current King of the Ring tournament on SmackDown. This is the first time these two will face off within the squared circle, and the stakes are enormous. Melo exudes confidence as he draws the lines with the 14-time World Champion.

Taking it to X, the King of Drop revealed that he is “swimming with the sharks” but has never felt more at ease. Without a doubt, Carmelo Hayes will face the consequences if he takes The Viper for granted. Orton, who defeated AJ Styles in the first round last week on WWE SmackDown, is not cutting shortcuts. Carmelo Hayes, on the other hand, defeated Baron Corbin in the King of the Ring tournament’s preliminary round.

Swimming with the sharks, never felt more at home. #KOTR #Smackdown #Quarterfinals pic.twitter.com/g5IANXbXWw

— Carmelo Hayes (@Carmelo_WWE) May 15, 2024

Hayes wrote, “Swimming with the sharks, never felt more at home. #KOTR #Smackdown #Quarterfinals”

Carmelo Hayes might beat “The Viper”

The odds may appear to favor Randy. However, Melo’s performance since being promoted to SmackDown says loudly about how unfazed he is. On his debut night as an official member of the blue brand, The A-Champion tossed the ball into Cody Rhodes‘ court, only for him to pick it up. They went the distance in a classic, with the Undisputed WWE Champion defeating the 29-year-old.

Also Read: WWE SmackDown (May 17, 2024): Match card, news, rumors, timings, telecast details

Needless to say, the former NXT Champion must have learned a lot there. However, Randy Orton poses a scary threat. The veteran has just regained his mojo and has the potential to demolish Melo’s status in an instant. To avoid the RKO, Hayes believes that staying out of harm’s way is critical.

Bobby Lashley has taken notice of Hayes since his main roster debut following his call-up to the WWE Draft in 2024. Lashley had cautioned Hayes to “be careful who you disrespect around here,” something the former NXT Champion didn’t fully follow after Lashley was withdrawn from the King of the Ring Tournament. In the Queen of the Ring competition quarterfinals, Jade Cargill meets Nia Jax, while Bianca Belair faces Tiffany Stratton.

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