Mike Hayes
Wrestling Analyst
Mike Hayes has followed professional wrestling for over a decade, covering WWE, AEW and the indie scene with a focus on storytelling, character work and the business side of the squared circle.
Articles by Mike Hayes
AEW's pay-per-view dominance is about to face a reality check
AEW Champion MJF thinks his company’s PPV catalog is the GOAT. The …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
WrestleMania week is becoming an economic engine for Vegas
With events like Van Vliet’s show on April 16, WrestleMania week has …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Tiffany Stratton is moving past the developmental label
Tiffany Stratton is moving past the developmental label, but gaps in her …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Sami Zayn's title retention feels like a creative dead end
Sami Zayn’s recent retention of the United States Championship suggests a creative …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Jack Perry’s GCW cameo fuels speculation on his AEW future
Jack Perry’s surprise reunion with Marko Stunt at GCW Maniac has sparked …
2 months, 2 weeks agoTed DiBiase Jr. surfaces at WrestleCon ahead of WrestleMania 41
Ted DiBiase Jr. is popping up at WrestleCon as WrestleMania 41 approaches, …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Celebrity cameos at WrestleMania 41 feel like a massive distraction
WrestleMania 41 is approaching, and the focus on celebrities like Lil Yachty …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
WrestleMania 41 is a high-stakes stress test for Triple H
Triple H is under pressure to move WWE beyond nostalgia as WrestleMania …
2 months, 2 weeks agoWWE Raw is doing the bare minimum while WrestleMania 41 looms
Raw is adding filler matches while WrestleMania 41 looms, proving that the …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Chris Jericho’s AEW comeback is a strategic pivot, not a nostalgia act
Chris Jericho is back, but AEW's strategic reliance on returning veterans could …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Pat McAfee’s SmackDown return signals a high-stakes pivot for WWE creative
Pat McAfee’s return to WWE has sent shockwaves through the SmackDown main …
2 months, 2 weeks agoWWE Backlash 2026 is a weird, disjointed mess of a card
Backlash 2026 is a filler-heavy, disjointed mess that proves WWE is struggling …
2 months, 2 weeks agoCM Punk is finally doing the job he was meant for
CM Punk's WrestleMania 41 match is more than a centerpiece; it is …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Why John Cena needs to move behind the headset at WWE
Jim Ross thinks John Cena belongs behind the mic, and he’s right. …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Trick Williams on SmackDown is a massive risk WWE is not ready to manage
Trick Williams' recent SmackDown spot is a red flag, and the nostalgia-baiting …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Cedric Alexander and Ash By Elegance are proving the TNA talent pipeline works
Cedric Alexander and Ash By Elegance are hitting their stride in TNA, …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Nikki Bella injury update: WWE confirm rehabilitation process underway
WWE has confirmed that Nikki Bella is undergoing rehabilitation following a recent …
2 months, 2 weeks agoMercedes Moné and the mystery of the missing travel receipts
The war of words surrounding Mercedes Moné’s travel delays is getting ugly, …
2 months, 2 weeks agoNXT Stand and Deliver showed why WWE's third brand is hitting a wall
NXT's Stand and Deliver card confirmed my fears: great athletes, zero narrative …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Remembering the aerial legacy of Flying Fred Curry
A look at the legacy of Flying Fred Curry, the pioneer who …
2 months, 2 weeks ago