6 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Raw (26 June - Review)
2. Beating A Champ
As much as you might say that Carmelo Hayes gained exposure in his Raw debut match against Finn Balor, it all boils down to this: The NXT Champion lost clean a night before he’s set to face Baron Corbin for the title.
And you have to ask: Why?
This isn’t to suggest that Hayes should have won, or that Balor shouldn’t have won on the cusp of his challenge for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. But if you have two guys who ideally shouldn’t lose, then don’t book the match. It’s really that simple. Don’t book Melo to make his debut wearing the belt and losing the match, 24 hours before a big title defense. Or find a way to end the match indecisively if you have to go forward with it.
Instead, Hayes was a stepping stone for Balor, a role that could have been filled by anyone.