Carmelo Hayes Reportedly Considered A Shawn Michaels 'Project' In WWE NXT 2.0

Carmelo Hayes has reportedly impressed a number of people with influence backstage in WWE NXT 2.0, with the new North American Champion specifically catching the eye of the legendary Shawn Michaels.

Hayes won the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament earlier this year and used the Championship opportunity earned through that victory to challenge, and win, the NXT North American Title from Isiah 'Swerve' Scott on the October 12 episode of NXT 2.0.

According to Fightful Select, Hayes had already been an individual that NXT officials were keeping an eye on but the youngster particularly impressed during a match with KUSHIDA back in June. His outing in that bout is said to have earned him further opportunities, including his one-on-one match with Adam Cole on NXT television.

Hayes, in particularly, has been working closely with WWE Hall Of Famer Shawn Michaels, with one source reportedly saying that the Heartbreak Kid can see a lot of himself in the 27-year-old. Many backstage in NXT consider Hayes to be one of Michaels' personal 'projects', which would go some way to explaining the photo of the duo together following his NXT North American Title win this week.

In regard to how the Championship changed hands, the report says this was done in order to make a new star for NXT in Hayes while also protecting 'Swerve' ahead of his move up to WWE Friday Night SmackDown next week.