Carmelo Hayes’ shocking addition to 946 at the end of Monday night’s Raw was reportedly the brainchild of someone already in the group: 946 leader Royce Keys himself. This wild reveal saw Hayes, who had been absent from WWE programming for weeks, return with a crowbar to attack Solo Sikoa in the main event, instantly shaking up the WWE landscape.
Melo’s Vicious Return Was Weeks in the Making
Fans had been buzzing, and honestly, a little frustrated, over Carmelo Hayes’ recent absence and his lack of utilization. His last match was a loss to then-United States champion Baron Corbin back on August 14’s SmackDown. But trust me, nobody saw *this* coming. The Raw main event saw 946’s Keys, Bronco Nima, and Lucien Price throw down with The Bloodline’s Solo Sikoa and The Usos in a clash that had been hyped for weeks. Then, in the absolute closing moments, some mystery assailant attacked Sikoa with a crowbar! When that bandana came off, it was Melo.
This isn’t just a random act, though. According to False Finish, Royce Keys was the one who inquired about bringing Hayes into the stable. It’s a massive move because 946 just picked up an elite in-ring worker who oozes charisma and has a history of winning championships. We’re talking former NXT champion, North American champion, and United States champion. With Keys, Nima, Price, Hayes, and Jaida Parker now in the mix, 946 has a five-person unit. That means we could be looking at a WarGames match against The Bloodline at Survivor Series next month, assuming WWE runs with that direction. Talk about high stakes!
Sheamus’ Free Agent Frenzy and MITB Shocks
Elsewhere in the wrestling world, Sheamus is a hot commodity. Before TNA brought in former AEW star Max Caster to face Moose at Bound For Glory on Sunday, they reportedly discussed making a play for the multi-time WWE world champion. False Finish claimed Sheamus was the “primary name that TNA was considering” for Moose’s opponent at their biggest pay-per-view. Fightful Select, citing Geno Mrosko of Cageside Seats, reported in July that Sheamus was set to leave WWE when his contract ran out. Then, Fightful Select, citing Fightful’s Ishaan Sharma, confirmed he officially became a free agent on October 1.
Since then, The Celtic Warrior has mostly been linked to AEW, with Fightful Wrestling reporting that some “big veteran names” in AEW are actually pushing for the company to sign him. The dude is 48 years old and still crushing it, boasting an insane resume: four-time world champion, three-time United States champion, five-time tag team champion, and he’s won the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and King of the Ring. It’s no surprise he’s drawing interest from multiple companies. What’s unclear is if Sheamus told TNA “no,” leading them to Caster, or if TNA just went with Caster despite mutual interest. If TNA does land Sheamus, it would be one of their biggest signings ever, giving them a bona fide main eventer to build around.
And speaking of big wins, WWE reportedly made some creative changes for the men’s and women’s Money in the Bank ladder matches over the weekend. WrestleVotes on Fightful Select, cited by H Jenkins of Ringside News, reported that Penta “wasn’t supposed to be” the Money in the Bank winner just a month ago. Apparently, WWE’s plans changed after his absolutely strong performance, even in a losing effort, against world heavyweight champion Roman Reigns on the September 14 Raw in Mexico City. WrestleVotes on Fightful Select, also cited by Felix Upton of Ringside News, noted a significant contributing factor in the booking of Tiffany Stratton’s win, too.
So, what’s next? We’ve got our eyes glued to Survivor Series to see if 946 and The Bloodline finally throw down in WarGames with Melo firmly in the mix. The drama around Sheamus’ next move is heating up, and honestly, wherever he lands is going to feel like a huge deal. It’s wild how fast things can change in the WWE, and these latest moves prove it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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