Hayes eliminates Andrade to close a chaotic SmackDown finale in Las Vegas
Summary
– Carmelo Hayes wins the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal on April 18
– The Miz saves Hayes mid-match before being eliminated
– El Grande Americano returns to eliminate Rey Fenix
Carmelo Hayes walked into WrestleMania 41 weekend with something to prove, leaving SmackDown as the 2025 Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal winner. The victory marked a major step forward for Hayes, who closed out the chaotic multi-man match by eliminating longtime rival Andrade.
Hayes was nearly tossed midway through the match but was saved by The Miz, who sacrificed himself to keep Hayes alive. As the field narrowed, Pete Dunne and Ludwig Kaiser were eliminated in a heated exchange before Rey Fenix dazzled the crowd with his high-flying style. His momentum was cut short when El Grande Americano suddenly returned and threw him out of the ring.
The final two came down to Hayes and Andrade, who reignited their 2024 feud before a sold-out crowd at T-Mobile Arena. Both men teetered on the ropes until Hayes hit a suplex to send Andrade over and win the match.
With this win, Hayes adds his name to a prestigious list of winners and kicks off WrestleMania weekend with career-changing momentum.
