Two superstars, each in need of a win, walked away with their hands raised in victory on an abbreviated episode of Main Event. Dragon Lee upset Rusev while Carmelo Hayes secured a “W” but little else.
Melo Didn’t Miss, WWE Did
Carmelo Hayes defeated Axiom following a spectacular First 48 to break a five-match winless streak. Unfortunately, this seemed like a missed opportunity for WWE to help get “H1M” over.
The problem? He was in there with a fellow babyface, someone the crowd wasn’t going to boo. After cheering for Hayes
one moment, they applauded Axiom following a Spanish Fly from the top rope. When it was over, both men shared the spotlight and the crowd’s adoration.
At the beginning, fans chanted “Melo,” and for good reason. Hayes is easy to like because he consistently has solid matches. Unfortunately, pitting him against other fan favorites only reinforces his role as the guy who “has good matches.”
To reach the next level, fans need a reason to become emotionally invested in Hayes. A program with a heel — someone who can direct the crowd’s emotions toward him — could be what gets him there.
Don’t Stop Believin’
When I saw Dragon Lee had drawn Rusev, I shook my head. All I could think about was how WWE would continue to tout Lee as the future of lucha libre, while booking him as someone with a bleak present.
Unlike Hayes, Lee was in there against someone that this audience was happy to boo. Everything Rusev did got a reaction. When he snuffed out a late rally, you could feel the air go out of the building.
And then a funny thing happened.
After Rusev locked in the Accolade, Lee never gave up. Slowly, the fans began encouraging him to keep fighting. Rusev, who was losing his grip, let him go and kicked him in the back.
But as he went to lock in his version of the Camel Clutch a second time, Lee scooted away and rolled him up for the pin.
The final image before Main Event went off the air was of Lee, his smile beaming through his mask. I couldn’t help but feel happy for him, as WWE’s booking has not been kind to the Dragon in 2026.
Though he looks scrappy in every match, he ultimately loses in critical situations. I’d like to believe this is the start of a renewed push, but only time will tell. For now, this should continue the story Lee and Rey Mysterio have going with Rusev and Ethan Page.
The Final Bell
Main Event featured two matches this week and ran just under 20 minutes. Throughout the show, commentary promoted SummerSlam, which takes place August 1 and 2 at Minneapolis’ U.S. Bank Stadium.
As the SummerSlam graphic flashed on-screen, the event’s logo appeared on a traditional horned Viking helmet.
Right away, my Spidey-Senses started tingling.
Beyond being home to the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, Minneapolis is also the adopted home of Brock Lesnar, who today carries a modern-day Viking vibe. At SummerSlam, he’ll face Oba Femi inside Hell in a Cell, a match Lesnar has never lost.
With their series tied 1-1 and Lesnar, 48, closer to the end of his career than the beginning, logic suggests the man 20 years his junior should come out on top.
But Lesnar has deep ties to Minnesota, including a brief stint with the Vikings during the 2004 preseason. Combined with the Viking theme in the SummerSlam branding, the outcome feels less certain than it once did.
