When wrestling speaks louder than words: The Andrade-Carmelo Hayes feud

In WWE's often criticized, storyline-driven landscape, where in-ring excellence is sometimes scarce, one feud defies the negative stereotypes of the company's TV product. The rivalry between Andrade and Carmelo Hayes has emerged as one of the best things with the current product, looking more like something out of AEW's playbook.

In a "SmackDown" environment long dominated by the ongoing Bloodline saga, finding classic wrestling can be challenging. Yet, Andrade and Hayes are delivering just that. Their feud began on the July 19 episode of "SmackDown," where they faced off simply to determine who the better wrestler was. There were no titles on the line, no melodramatic storylines — just two competitors testing each other's limits to see who was the superior athlete.

Andrade emerged victorious in their first encounter, leading to a rematch on Aug. 2, which Andrade also won. Both matches were well-received by fans online and by the live crowd, as evident from the "This is Awesome" chants that filled the arena — a clear sign of the audience's full engagement. 

On the Aug. 9 episode of "SmackDown," Andrade faced Santos Escobar in a match to determine the first challenger for LA Knight's United States Championship. Frustrated by his losses to Andrade, Hayes interfered, attacking him and allowing Escobar to secure the win. This interference set up a third match, with the looming possibility of Andrade sweeping Hayes in their rivalry.

The following week, Hayes finally secured his first victory over Andrade with a pinning combination, bringing the series to 2-1. After the match, tensions escalated, with the two brawling following Hayes' victory, setting the stage for a potential fourth encounter. A month ago, few would have predicted that a feud between Hayes and Andrade over who is the better wrestler would become one of the most intriguing parts of WWE programming. At times, it has even overshadowed the Bloodline segments that usually headline "SmackDown," despite Roman Reigns' recent return.

Since taking over WWE Creative in 2022, Triple H has faced criticism for focusing too much on drawn-out stories and title pursuits, often at the expense of in-ring action. However, the feud between Hayes and Andrade represents a clear departure from that trend. By allowing them to focus on their in-ring abilities, Triple H has given them the platform to turn their rivalry into a series of thrilling matches that have captivated the wrestling world.

This approach demonstrates a simple yet effective way to engage fans: let the wrestlers wrestle. While storylines are crucial, in-ring performance is key to getting fans invested. Recognizing which talents can excel in the ring and allowing them to showcase their skills is always a smart move.