Trick Williams won his first principal roster gold in his first-ever WrestleMania moment at WWE WrestleMania 42 when he dethroned United States Champion Sami Zayn. Williams was called up from “WWE NXT” in early 2026 and has been making waves on “WWE SmackDown” ever since.
Though he initially debuted as a heel, he quickly got over with fans, thanks partly to his excellent mic skills, superstar look, and a catchy phrase about his fancy white boots, his “lemon pepper steppers.” As a former NXT Champion, Williams’ in-ring ability is not something to be looked past, either.
Williams’ storyline with Zayn involved every little thing from rapper Lil Yachty at ringside, a diss track, and a life-sized gingerbread man costume, as he dubbed Zayn “the Gingerbread Man” as a consequence of his hair color. Their feud didn’t end at WrestleMania, and Williams shall be challenged by Zayn at Backlash in a ‘Mania rematch for the gold.
With just how over Williams is with fans in arenas and online, and the way Zayn appears to be turning fully heel, especially after a novel segment where he cut a promo, then beat down the gingerbread man costume, it doesn’t look as if Williams is dropping the title back to Zayn. Williams has also done away with the babyface United States Championship open challenge on the blue brand, so it is also unlikely he drops the gold to anyone anytime soon, and when he does, it can be on an even bigger premium live event stage.
If Zayn is not winning the title back from Williams at Backlash, we predict there are two likely candidates for who becomes the following United States Champion. There’s one clear winner, as a consequence of his history with the present champion, and a newcomer who could win the belt to realize some much-needed momentum on the principal roster.
Will: Carmelo Hayes
Carmelo Hayes has had a wave of fan support behind him since his time teaming with The Miz following his call-up from “NXT.” From social media support with fans using “#WeWantMelo,” leading to him breaking away from Miz for the second time and turning babyface, to those self same fans being upset on the indisputable fact that ‘Melo missed WrestleMania, it seems like the previous NXT Champion will at all times have crowds and online fans behind him. Together with his vast history with Williams on top of all that support, it actually looks as if Hayes will win back the US Championship from his former friend eventually.
Hayes and Williams were once thick as thieves on “NXT” because the “Trick Melo Gang,” and it was Hayes to introduce Williams to the Performance Center crowd. They went their separate ways, amicably, after two-and-a-half years, but a feud with Ilja Dragunov for the NXT title would drive them further apart, resulting in a feud between them, and it’s one many fans of the developmental brand remember fondly.
Their pair had their first singles match against each other at Stand & Deliver 2024, then one other in a steel cage in an try to settle the feud in the next weeks on “NXT.” Williams would capture the title that month, right across the time ‘Melo was called up.
The pair have a ton of chemistry each within the ring and on the mic, and it’s something WWE must explore on the principal roster. To this point, they’ve only faced each other in a triple threat match. Williams can easily lean more heel of their feud, but each men are so good that it won’t even matter. It also seems like an even bigger feud, one meant to culminate at an event like SummerSlam, so Williams’ reign could still be lengthy.
Should: Ricky Saints
Former NXT Champion Ricky Saints made his principal roster debut on the May 1 edition of “WWE SmackDown” when he went toe-to-toe against Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, but he did not topple the champion in non-title motion and was pinned off a single Cross Rhodes. While many fans online considered the “Absolute’s” principal roster debut lackluster, WWE creative could easily make up for it by booking him to win the US Championship from Williams quickly after Williams’ successful defense over Zayn at Backlash.
While many fans expect Williams to have an extended title reign, as he’s incredibly over with fans despite currently playing a tweener, WWE could do the shocking thing and put Saints over. It might get Saints heel heat and push Williams further toward a babyface role.
Saints and Williams battled in a four-and-a-quarter-star (in line with Dave Meltzer) Last Man Standing match on an episode of “NXT” back in November, and it was one in all only two singles matches between the pair. I’m unsure what number of principal roster fans saw either of those matches, so putting them in a feud on “SmackDown” would only be an excellent thing. Between their in-ring chemistry and the way they’ll match each other on the mic, it could be an entertaining feud.
The title doesn’t must be off Williams for long, and he could beat Saints to get it back after which move on to his greater feud in Hayes. Or, Williams could even move on to compete for the highest title against Rhodes, if officials deem him ready. Either way, a short title reign and fiery feud with Williams would get some more “oomph” behind Saints, for lack of a greater term, and that is something he really needs after his debut.