Carmelo Hayes, now the WWE United States Champion, has stirred excitement around the “Carmelo Hayes United States Championship” after hinting at bringing back a classic title design. Hayes secured the championship on December 26 during Friday Night SmackDown, defeating Ilja Dragunov and igniting speculation about the future look of the title.
Hayes Claims the Title in SmackDown Victory
Hayes captured the WWE United States Championship by pinning Ilja Dragunov, ending Dragunov’s 70-day run with the belt. The match took place during the December 26 episode of Friday Night SmackDown, positioning Hayes as the latest rising star on the roster. This victory is a key milestone for Hayes, reinforcing his growing reputation within WWE.
Possible Return of the Iconic Spinner Design
Immediately following his win, attention turned to the championship’s potential makeover. An online post on X revisited Hayes’ public comments from 2023, where he promised to revive the spinner-style design if he ever won the United States Championship. Responding to a fan’s reminder, Hayes replied with an emoji, which many took as a subtle confirmation that a throwback design could return.
Recalling the Cena Era and the Spinner Championship
The spinner championship became synonymous with John Cena, who introduced it in 2004. Featuring a rotating center plate, the belt complemented Cena’s “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona and is still regarded as one of WWE’s most notable designs. Hayes’s reference to this legacy has not gone unnoticed by fans who still associate the spinner championship closely with Cena’s era.
Links to John Cena and Recent Tournament
This connection to Cena takes on added meaning given Hayes’ participation in the recent Last Time Is Now Tournament, which sought to find Cena’s final opponent. Hayes was knocked out in the quarterfinals by GUNTHER, who proceeded to face Cena in his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event earlier this month. This sequence of events has kept Hayes in the WWE spotlight alongside other notable names, including Triple H and GUNTHER.
Triple H Reacts and Looks Toward the Future
Following Hayes’s championship win, WWE executive Triple H commended him publicly and hinted at major developments ahead with two posts:
“The year isn’t over until the bell rings,”
– Triple H, WWE Executive
“Congratulations @Carmelo_WWE on becoming the NEW United States Champion. Big things on the horizon.”
– Triple H, WWE Executive
These messages underline WWE’s enthusiasm about Hayes’s future and suggest more changes might be on the way.
Looking Ahead to the Royal Rumble
With the Royal Rumble 2026 approaching on January 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, all eyes are on Carmelo Hayes as he embarks on his reign as United States Champion. WWE fans now eagerly await confirmation on whether the spinner championship will make its official return, while Hayes enjoys momentum from his significant recent achievements.
“😈”
– Carmelo Hayes, WWE United States Champion
😈
— Carmelo Hayes (@Carmelo_WWE) December 28, 2025
