Is there a chance that former WWE United States Champion Carmelo Hayes is leaving the company to join Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) in AEW?
MJF took to his Instagram Stories to share a throwback picture of himself during a match against Hayes. They both look significantly younger, as the three-time AEW World Champion doesn't have the beard he now sports, and Hayes still has longer hair. This is before they broke through in WWE and AEW, as they appear to be wrestling in a school gym.
According to Cagematch, they last competed in a match together on Jan. 4, 2019, days before MJF joined AEW. Hayes, who was wrestling as Christian Casanova at the time, and MJF lost to Josh Briggs in a six-man match at CW Pandemonium. Maybe the picture is from that matchup.
MJF shared a photo on his Instagram Stories featuring himself and Carmelo Hayes on the independent wrestling scene. The post comes as Hayes has been absent from WWE television and blacked out his Twitter/X account, prompting speculation among fans about his future. pic.twitter.com/27Q7Vwtc7R
— NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW news (@nodqdotcom) October 12, 2026
Meanwhile, Hayes recently scrubbed his X (formerly Twitter) account, removing his profile picture, amid his WWE absence. He hasn't wrestled since the Aug. 14, 2026, edition of Friday Night SmackDown, when he unsuccessfully challenged Baron Corbin for the United States Championship.
Is Carmelo Hayes leaving WWE to join MJF in AEW?
Still, it remains to be seen if Hayes is leaving WWE. He has been absent from programming for a couple of months, but that doesn't mean he isn't set to return.
Hayes scrubbing his X account caused a stir online, especially since he did it around Money in the Bank 2026. It could have been interpreted as him expressing his discontent.
However, until a move is made official, it remains speculation. It has not always been bad for Hayes, a former NXT Champion and United States Champion. He is also a former two-time North American Champion and was the final Cruiserweight Champion. His United States Championship reign ended in March 2026 at the hands of Sami Zayn.