Carmelo Hayes has turned heel on Trick Williams.

The turn came after Trick’s loss in his NXT Championship quest vs. Ilja Dragunov. In defeat, Trick was perked back up by Carmelo, who assured Williams that they would always have each other before chop blocking his already-injured knee from behind. A violent steel chair-aided assault to the knee followed before Carmelo laid a TMG (Trick Melo Gang) towel across his fallen foe’s chest.

Hayes’ heel turn was received well in the building, with loud jeers, visible expressions of shock, and vocal “F**k you, ‘Melo” chants dominating the end of the show. The turn had been teased for several months, dating back to Trick being laid out in the parking lot in October.

This marks Carmelo Hayes’ first time portraying a heel since March 2023. A double turn following last April’s Stand And Deliver between him and Bron Breakker saw both Hayes and Trick Williams transition into babyfaces, with Trick growing organically into one of the brand’s biggest stars as a result.

What’s Next For Trick Williams?

Although an expected match with Carmelo Hayes will be first on Trick Williams’ mind, his future in WWE may already be pinpointed, with internal sources revealing to Haus of Wrestling that he is perceived as a potential WrestleMania headliner. Members of WWE’s creative team were said to be “blown away” by Trick’s reaction on the January 26 SmackDown and believe he has a “great attitude and skill set” that will get him far.