Ricky Saints has only been part of the main roster for a few weeks, but he’s already made a powerful enemy. Carmelo Hayes has been frustrated by him for weeks, and their tension reached a boiling point during the May 15, 2026, episode of Friday Night SmackDown, where Saints suffered a loss. Their rivalry has also involved WWE United States Champion Trick Williams, as both have a history with him.
On the May 22 SmackDown, Hayes and Williams had an intense faceoff, but not before Hayes attacked Saints backstage. They eventually had a match where Williams won after Saints interfered. He got the attention of the referee, allowing Williams to knock Hayes off the turnbuckle. Hayes went for a pinfall, but the referee didn’t see it. Williams then delivered a Trick Shot to win the match, which greatly pleased Saints.
It was clear that the result wasn’t forgotten the next week. Would Saints get the last laugh with his victory, or would Hayes once again beat him in an entertaining match?
Double Count-Out Between Carmelo Hayes and Ricky Saints
Going into the match, all three men involved in the storyline had a lot to say to each other. Williams was angry that Hayes was still targeting him after a betrayal that occurred two years ago. Hayes wanted a title shot immediately, aiming to prove that he deserved to reclaim the US title. He also wanted to eliminate Saints from the picture so he could focus solely on Williams. Meanwhile, Saints wanted to show Williams that he could beat Hayes, potentially earning a title opportunity. With King of the Ring starting on Monday, and Williams declaring earlier in the night, both men were determined to secure the victory.
The match started with Saints delivering some impressive offense. He chopped Hayes against the ropes, clearly frustrated that the feud continued. After both men ran the ropes with offensive moves, Hayes forcefully kicked Saints into the corner. He then hit a no-look reverse springboard, sending Saints outside the ring.
But Saints quickly regained his footing, hitting a lariat on Hayes and starting to punch him. After an extensive series of kicks and punches, Hayes retaliated with the same moves. It seemed like Saints was about to lose quickly, but he tossed Hayes out of the ring over the top rope. He then threw him into the barricade twice.
When they returned to the ring, Saints still had major control over the match. However, Hayes pushed him down and delivered a frog splash. He got his knees up, allowing him to attempt a pin, which was unsuccessful. Hayes then attempted a pinfall as well, but it was also unsuccessful. The two men exchanged several punches before a springboard sent Saints to the mat.
After more rope running between them, the Dirty Diana gave Hayes the upper hand on the mat. He then sent Saints tumbling out of the ring after another failed pinfall. But Hayes wasn’t done as he leaped onto Saints, sending both men crashing in front of the Spanish announcer’s table. The referee began counting for both men to re-enter the ring, but they didn’t seem to notice.
Saints once again sent Hayes towards the barricade, but this time he sent him over it into the crowd. Hayes wasn’t amused as he leaped onto Saints, sending him to the ground.
The two men continued brawling as the referee’s count reached nine. They finally separated, but not before the count hit ten and the double count-out was officially declared. Hayes tried to reason with the referee afterward, but the decision was final. Saints then attacked Hayes, but a First 48 sent him tumbling out of the ring. After this match, there’s no doubt that their storyline is far from over.
