This past Friday night’s episode of WWE SmackDown featured Carmelo Hayes losing the United States Championship to Sami Zayn. This surprising turn of events occurred so close to WrestleMania 44 that many speculated Hayes might be taking time off from WWE television to marry NXT star Kelani Jordan. The speculation arose after a photographer and videographer hired by the couple shared pictures and videos on social media, leading fans to believe that Hayes and Jordan had already tied the knot.
However, according to Bodyslam+, this was not the case. The images and videos shared were actually from their engagement ceremony last July, and it has been confirmed that Hayes does not plan to take time off during the WrestleMania season. The report also stated that Hayes' plans for the upcoming Show of Shows in Las Vegas, Nevada, next month are currently unknown.
Hayes' tenure as WWE United States Champion lasted 98 days. He captured the title from Ilja Dragunov on the December 19, 2025, episode of Friday Night SmackDown and successfully defended it several times through Open Challenge matches. His reign ended when his friend-turned-foe Trick Williams attacked him, allowing Zayn to seize the opportunity and secure a pinfall victory.
