A WWE star has teased bringing back an old championship design following his recent title victory. Carmelo Hayes won the United States Championship in a match that aired on the December 26 episode of SmackDown, pinning Ilja Dragunov to become the champion.
Hayes has responded to a social media post referencing his prior comments about potentially reintroducing a specific title design. Following Hayes’ win, a fan on X pointed out that Hayes had stated in 2023 that he would bring back the spinner version of the US Championship belt if he ever held the gold. Hayes acknowledged these past comments, responding to the recent post with a single emoji.
😈
— Carmelo Hayes (@Carmelo_WWE) December 28, 2025
The WWE United States Spinner Championship belt was originally debuted by John Cena in 2004. The unique design featured a spinning center plate and was a signature of Cena’s “Doctor of Thuganomics” persona.
This connection to Cena is notable, as Hayes recently competed in the “Last Time Is Now” tournament to determine John Cena’s final opponent. Hayes was eliminated in the quarterfinals by eventual tournament winner GUNTHER. GUNTHER would go on to defeat Cena in his retirement match at Saturday Night’s Main Event earlier this month.
Following Hayes’ title victory, WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H took to social media to praise the new champion and tease future plans. “The year isn’t over until the bell rings,” Triple H wrote. “Congratulations @Carmelo_WWE on becoming the NEW United States Champion. Big things on the horizon.”
The title win marks a milestone for Hayes, who ended Dragunov’s 70-day reign with the championship. Looking ahead, WWE is building toward the Royal Rumble, which will take place on Saturday, January 31, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
