6 Ups & 6 Downs From WWE Raw (26 June - Review)

2. Beating A Champ

Carmelo Hayes Finn Bálor
WWE.com

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.

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Contributor
Contributor

Scott is a former journalist and longtime wrestling fan who was smart enough to abandon WCW during the Monday Night Wars the same time as the Radicalz. He fortunately became a fan in time for WrestleMania III and came back as a fan after a long high school hiatus before WM XIV. Monday nights in the Carlson household are reserved for viewing Raw -- for better or worse.