Wrestling News

Home

Quizzes

Newsletter

Image credit: ClutchPoints

Montez Ford warns Carmelo Hayes about messing with Bobby Lashley

Originally posted on ClutchPoints | By Matty Breisch | Last updated 5/15/24

Though it hasn’t even been a month since Carmelo Hayes was drafted onto SmackDown in the first round of the 2024 WWE Draft, “Him” has already made a few enemies on the main roster, namely Bobby Lashley, the former WWE Champion and his faction The Pride, B-Fab, Montez Ford and Angelo Dawkins of the Street Profits.

Now sure, technically WWE hasn’t exactly leaned into this feud on television, as Lashley was pulled from the King of the Ring Tournament because he’s physically unable to compete, but that hasn’t stopped both performers from taking shots at eachother on social media, especially as Hayes continues to dazzle in the very same tournament.

Discussing Hayes’ actions in a special appearance on The Bump, Ford let it be known that while young “cubs” are going to go out of their way to run their mouths, they’d be wise to respect The Pride, as they stand on business.

“Once again, you see there, the disrespect of these individuals, coming up here, thinking that they got this terrain. Do they know what The Pride stands for? Do they know what The Pride means? We’re lions. That means all this terrain is ours, and ‘The All Mighty’ has been conquering this entire terrain such a very, very long time. For these individuals, for these new little cubbies to come up and think that they can own the terrain, and the terrain is theirs, they lost their d**n mind. That’s exactly what Bobby is talking about,” Montez Ford explained via Fightful.

“These little cubbies coming up, ‘Oh, this space and time is mine. Oh, this territory’s mine, I’m gonna show that lion.’ That’s where you’re wrong. When you’re coming up, when you make your way up, congratulations. But The Pride has been a bunch of individuals who’s been doing something for a very, very long time. So this area, this space, this is something that we’re familiar with. You’re not familiar with this territory, buddy. So don’t walk around here like you’re familiar with it because you might have to get tamed, or learn, or just dealt with. Whatever you young cats and young fellas call it. We standing on business, man. That’s just what it is.”

Whoa, while Ford didn’t say Hayes’ name, it’s not hard to imagine who he’s talking about, as again, Hayes has been running his mouth both before and after Lashley’s injury. Still, considering the Street Profits have acted a very similar way during their come up, it’s worth wondering if Ford doesn’t also have a little respect for Hayes, as there’s no better way to prove you can be a top-tier performer than to test your efforts against the best.

Carmelo Hayes is incredibly confident about his WWE future.

Speaking of Carmelo Hayes and his seemingly unlimited well of confidence, the “A-Champ” stopped by The Ring Wrestling Show to talk about his spot on SmackDown, and let it be known that he has nothing but confidence, as Shawn Michaels has helped to give him the tools needed to become a champion.

“He told me, straight up, ‘You can never take a day off. A lot of these guys can take a day off, and they’ll be accepted, but you can never take a day off or phone it in.’ It sucks in a way, but at the same time, I’m open to the challenge because the bar, for some reason, is raised higher because of my size,” Carmelo Hayes explained via Fightful.

“People are expecting way more. I can’t make mistakes. Not on top of my size, but being perceived as someone who is being pushed to the forefront. I feel a lot of criticism from people off everything I do. I’ve had the microscope on me for a long time. I’m kind of used to it now, but the bar is very higher. One, when you’re a Shawn Michaels guy. Two, when you’re a first-round draft pick. Three, being undersized. Four, being of color. There are a lot of things that come into play with that pressure. I’m open to that challenge and looking to prove people wrong. As far as Shawn Michaels goes, he gives me that advice all the time. ‘You have to be better than the rest at everything. You can’t lack. What you lack in size, you have to make up for in every other category.”

If Hayes were to wrestle Bobby Lashley at some point in the future, he would unquestionably enter the match as a massive underdog against the former WWE Champion, but how many times did that exact same situation happen in NXT only for Hayes to come out on top in the end? If anyone has mastered the art of exceeding expectations, it’s Hayes, which is good, because his expectations right now are incredibly high.