4 Ups & 5 Downs From WWE SmackDown (15 May - Results & Review)
3. Familiar Struggles
It’s almost ironic that Carmelo Hayes was out here with Ricky Saints, because Saints is starting to feel a whole hell of a lot like Melo did when he first landed on the main roster. Sure, the dude’s having solid matches, but he doesn’t feel like a big deal just yet. Saints sort of did when confronting Cody, but since then? Nah.
However, on a much brighter note, Ricky can look sideways at Hayes to see how well things shake out if you stick at it and forge a connection with the crowd. That’s the silver lining here, but it isn’t enough to turn the scenario into an ‘Up’. Another subtle positive would be that Carmelo scored a win and the fans were into him, at least. Again though, nowhere near enough to gush with praise for this.
One of the most obvious issues staring Ricky straight in the face is that he's trying to work a dominant style better associated with bigger workers. Here, he acted like it was Gunther in the ring with Hayes rather than a couple of guys who are zippy and the same size. That was an odd choice. It needs to stop. Maybe things would be different if that style worked for Saints, but it doesn't.
Not on WWE's main roster anyway.
There's plenty of time for the ultra-talented Ricky to get things right, but you've got call 'em how you see 'em sometimes and this was far from his or Melo's best. Fingers crossed they're better prepared and more over (in the case of Saints) when WWE run it back in the future.