There's a certain element of trust that comes from being a pro wrestler and getting the chance to work with the WWE champion on your first night.
But for Carmelo Hayes, that's the "formula" which makes him tailor-made for success.
The talented Boston product – real name Christian Brigham – has become one of the most consistent performers on the WWE roster since signing with the company in 2021.
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Carmelo Hayes attends Netflix's debut of WWE Monday Night Raw last month. Â Getty Images for Netflix
As part of the developmental program, Hayes went from strength-to-strength, winning multiple titles on the brand and headlining the biggest show in NXT history last year on WrestleMania 40 weekend, before finally getting called up to the main roster.
On his first night on SmackDown – a show watched by millions across the globe – Hayes took on Cody Rhodes, the biggest full-time star in WWE.
Since then, the 30-year-old has faced off with countless household names and appears destined to become one of the promotion's focal points for the next decade.
Speaking to Wide World of Sports last week prior to the Royal Rumble in Indianapolis, Hayes reflected on a whirlwind rise – but one he wouldn't want any other way.
"The biggest lesson is to take the wins with the losses," he said.
"I went up to the main roster and started shooting straight for the top with Cody. Some people would say that's a mistake, but I have only become better from doing that.
Carmelo Hayes battles Cody Rhodes in 2024. Â WWE
"I might have had some setbacks, but at the end of the day I'm learning and getting in there with the top guys and coming out even better than I did going in.
"If you go back and watch my NXT career, on my first day I went in and challenged for a title and then on day two, I stepped up to Adam Cole and wrestled him.
"That was the formula and the company knew right away that they could throw me in the deep end against the top dogs and I'd be able to swim.
"I have proved that again on the main roster."
Play as Carmelo Hayes and others when WWE 2K25 is released on March 14.
While things didn't go his way at the Royal Rumble, Hayes still has plenty more ahead of him than behind him when it comes to competing on the big stage.
Three years ago, Hayes was part of a fresh crop of talent that were hand-picked by Hall of Fame legend Shawn Michaels to usher in a new era for WWE.
Shawn Michaels is the head of WWE's developmental system. Â Getty Images for Netflix
Among that group was Australian star Grayson Waller, who has since won titles on the main roster, as well as the freakishly-talented Bron Breakker.
"At the time, we were all looking left and right and thinking that we really were those guys to take the business forward," Hayes said.
"Shawn had kind of explained that same thing to us and told us that we were the next ones up and we all knew that we would be in this for the long haul.
"The proof is in the pudding, because we are all killing it."
Liam O'Loughlin was in Indianapolis covering WWE Royal Rumble for Wide World of Sports. His trip has been funded by WWE 2K25 – available to pre-order now.
