The first night of the 2024 WWE Draft has wrapped up, bringing changes to RAW, SmackDown, and even NXT. Notably, Carmelo Hayes emerged as a major pick, landing at #3 for SmackDown.
Hayes wasted no time in making his presence felt, challenging Cody Rhodes to a headline match on SmackDown’s main event.
However, commentator Wade Barrett’s excitement led to a hiccup when he mistakenly claimed Hayes was the first NXT Superstar ever picked in the first round of the WWE Draft.
A fan quickly corrected the error on Twitter, pointing out Finn Balor’s earlier selection in 2016. Barrett acknowledged the oversight and publicly apologized to Balor on social media.
“Can’t win ‘em all, especially when you’ve been kicked in the head as often as I have. My bad @FinnBalor,”
tweeted Wade Barrett.
Finn Balor notably skyrocketed to success after his draft pick, winning the Universal Championship shortly after his RAW debut. While Carmelo Hayes may not reach those heights immediately, his impressive showing against Cody Rhodes indicates a promising future on SmackDown.
