Carmelo Hayes eliminates heated rival to win Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal on WWE SmackDown

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Apr 19, 2025, 10:32 IST

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Carmelo Hayes secured a significant victory on WWE SmackDown by winning the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal. Hayes last eliminated Andrade El Idolo to claim the prestigious accolade in the opening match before WrestleMania 41. This marks Hayes' first major win since his call-up, signaling a promising future on the main roster.

Carmelo Hayes eliminates heated rival to win Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal on WWE SmackDown

Image via WWE

Carmelo Hayes etched his first big victory on the main roster by winning the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal on WWE SmackDown.
The final edition of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 41 began with the traditional Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal. The over-the-top-rope elimination match featured multiple WWE superstars from RAW and SmackDown. As the match came to a close, former NXT Champion Carmelo Hayes stood tall in the end to etch his first big win on the main roster.

Carmelo Hayes last eliminated his formidable rival to win the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal

The Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal was the opening match of the go-home edition of WWE SmackDown before WrestleMania 41, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. WWE superstars from SmackDown and RAW battled it out to earn the prestigious accolade that paid homage to one of the greatest WWE superstars of all time, Andre the Giant.
For years, the winners of the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal have gone on to become top stars like Jey Uso, Big Show, and Bronson Reed. So it was a huge opportunity for every superstar who competed in the over-the-top-rope melee. As the match progressed, superstars were tossed out of the ring, and the field began to clear, coming down to the final four: Shinsuke Nakamura, Rey Fenix, Andrade El Idolo, and Carmelo Hayes.

The King of Strong Style was the first to be eliminated among the four, and Rey Fenix followed suit with the match coming down to formidable rivals, Carmelo Hayes and Andrade El Idolo. The action went back and forth between the two, but as the dust settled, Hayes eliminated Andrade El Idolo and won the Andre the Giant Memorial battle royal.

This was Carmelo's first big victory since being called up to the main roster last year in the WWE Draft. He was an accomplished star in WWE NXT and has now begun his road to the top with this win, especially during WrestleMania week. With 'Him' winning his first major accolade in WWE, the future looks bright for Carmelo Hayes moving forward.
Also read: WWE SmackDown Results & Highlights (4/18/25): Cody Rhodes & John Cena's final face-off, Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner crowned and more

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TOI Sports Desk

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