1. Early NXT Run – “Melo Don’t Miss” Era (2021-2022)
Treatment Grade: A
2. Main Event Elevation – NXT Championship Run (2023)
Treatment Grade: B+
Treatment Grade: B– to C+
If WWE lets Carmelo:
Treatment Grade: A
- Breakout Moment: Won the 2021 NXT Breakout Tournament and cashed in on Isaiah “Swerve” Scott to win the North American Championship.
- Booking Notes: Strong push as a confident, stylish, mic-savvy athlete. HBK positioned him as the guy to carry NXT’s midcard.
- Match Quality: Stellar. His matches against Ricochet, Cameron Grimes, and Trick Williams were praised.
- Symbolism: Represented a new era of unapologetic Black charisma, similar to a hybrid of Shawn Michaels and prime ROH-style athleticism.
- Cultural Note: At this point, he felt anointed by HBK and seen as a crown jewel of the “Black & Gold” revival under HBK/HHH.
2. Main Event Elevation – NXT Championship Run (2023)
Treatment Grade: B+
- Crowning Moment: Defeated Bron Breakker at Stand & Deliver 2023.
- Promos & Presentation: Became more serious and philosophical, pushing the idea that “Melo is Him.”
- Trick Williams Chemistry: Their partnership was beloved. Trick was clearly the charisma, while Melo was the technical tactician.
- Booking Issues: While he was champ, the stories around him weren’t always top-tier. Matches were solid, but he didn’t get the same grand aura as Finn Balor or Adam Cole during their reigns.
- Symbolism: Treated well but slightly undersold—like they gave him the belt without making the era feel monumental.
- Underlying Energy: There was a sense that Trick might be the bigger long-term star—which HBK leaned into later.
Treatment Grade: B– to C+
- Major Feud: Turned on Trick Williams in a slow-burn heel turn that was well-acted but oddly timed.
- Booking Conflict: Melo felt oddly “protected” but also undermined. Trick was skyrocketing in popularity, and WWE may have over-corrected by making Trick the babyface.
- Audience Reaction: Crowds organically favored Trick. Melo’s heel turn wasn’t fully bought into by fans.
- Cultural Dynamics: Many fans noted a subtle discomfort in turning two prominent Black stars against each other without a greater cause or resolution. The feud risked feeling like a crabs-in-a-barrel trope if not handled carefully.
- Booking So Far: Debuted with some pop but hasn’t had a strong narrative. He’s been floating between solid matches and undefined goals.
- Danger Zone: Risk of being slotted as “just another guy” on the main roster if they don’t commit to his unique strengths.
- Shawn Michaels vs Triple H Contrast: HBK clearly got Melo’s flavor. It remains to be seen if HHH (and Vince if still active) sees Melo as more than a midcarder.
- Triple H & HBK Booking of Black Talent:
- HBK elevates when he cares—see Trick, Melo, Swerve, Wes Lee.
- But there’s a pattern of not giving full main-event reigns or cultural depth to Black champs.
- Melo almost had the full package moment, but Trick’s rise eclipsed him.
- Cultural Undercurrent:
- Melo embodies Black confidence and style in a way that blends old-school swagger with new-age delivery.
- His presentation feels like what WWE always wanted from a Black star, but sometimes lacks the final storytelling push to make him legendary.
- Spiritual Vibe:
- Melo is meant to be a generational talent—but there may be unseen internal politics, shifting creative priorities, or discomfort in letting two Black stars coexist at the top simultaneously.
If WWE lets Carmelo:
- Be philosophically deeper than the average heel,
- Lean into his true hybrid archetype (somewhere between AJ Styles, Shawn Michaels, and Jay-Z),
- And gives him high-stakes rivalries outside the Trick feud,
I was in the building when he turned, too 
