Christian Brigham was born on August 1, 1994. Hayes is an American professional wrestler. He is presently contracted to WWE, where he competes on the NXT brand as Carmelo Hayes. He is currently the reigning NXT Champion. Carmelo Hayes is also a two-time and second-longest reigning NXT North American Champion, as well as the final NXT Cruiserweight Champion, having united with the North American Championship. Brigham competed in the independent circuit, particularly in the New England region, until signing with WWE under the ring name Christian Casanova.
| Name | Christian Brigham |
| D.O.B | August 1, 1994 |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) |
| Weight | 95 kg |
| Occupation | Professional Wrestler |
| Debut | 2014 |
| In-ring name | Carmelo Hayes Christian Casanova |
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Carmelo Hayes, formerly known as Christian Casanova, embarked on his professional wrestling odyssey under the tutelage of Brian Fury. Debuting in 2014 for Chaotic Wrestling, he faced Mikey Webb, marking the genesis of a remarkable journey. His sojourn across various promotions, including Beyond Wrestling and Limitless Wrestling, saw him claim titles such as the Chaotic Wrestling New England Championship and the Chaotic Wrestling Tag Team Championship.
In 2021, Hayes made a pivotal transition to WWE, signing a contract and landing at the prestigious WWE Performance Center. His initial foray into NXT showcased resilience, notably accepting Kushida’s open challenge for the NXT Cruiserweight Championship. A turning point came when, on the October 12 episode of NXT, he seized the NXT North American Championship from Isaiah “Swerve” Scott.
Hayes’ reign was nothing short of spectacular. Unifying the North American and Cruiserweight Championships at New Year’s Evil, he etched his name in history. The journey included successful title defenses against formidable opponents like Johnny Gargano, Pete Dunne, and Cameron Grimes.
The narrative took an electrifying turn as Hayes ventured into a feud with Apollo Crews. Their battles culminated in a gripping two out of three falls match at NXT Vengeance Day, where Hayes emerged victorious. Teaming up with Trick Williams, Hayes set his sights on NXT Champion Bron Breakker, ultimately triumphing on April 1, 2023, at NXT Stand & Deliver.
This victory solidified Hayes as the first man to hold the North American, Cruiserweight, and NXT Championships. The story continued with successful defenses against Breakker and Noam Dar, but a new chapter unfolded as Baron Corbin entered the fray.
Hayes stepped onto the main roster on the June 26 episode of Raw, facing Finn Bálor in a non-title match. NXT Gold Rush witnessed him overcoming Corbin, but challenges loomed larger. Defending the NXT Championship at the Great American Bash against Ilja Dragunov showcased his resilience.
Amidst the triumphs, cracks emerged in Hayes’ partnership with Williams. Tensions escalated, leading to a confrontation where Williams urged Hayes to step into the spotlight alone. Post-match, teaming with Wes Lee resulted in an unintended mishap, intensifying the growing discord between Hayes and Lee.
As Carmelo Hayes continues his journey, the wrestling world eagerly watches to see if he can navigate these challenges and solidify his legacy as one of the industry’s rising stars.
