The March 6 episode of WWE SmackDown featured the debut of an AAA star. Hayes said he was ready to defend his WWE United States title again. Later backstage, SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis revealed that he had the perfect challenger in mind.
However, Hayes was confident enough and didn’t bother knowing the name beforehand.
That opponent turned out to be El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr.
The AAA Latin American Champion Steps Up to Carmelo Hayes
El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. comes from one of the most respected families in Mexican wrestling. He is the grandson of legendary luchador Dr. Wagner and the son of the famous Dr. Wagner Jr. His mother, Rossy Moreno, is also a professional wrestler.
Over the years, El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. has competed in many promotions, such as Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan. There, he won the GHC Heavyweight Championship and the GHC National Championship. He also captured the GHC Tag Team Championship with Rene Dupree.
Right now, Wagner competes in Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, where he is the current AAA Latin American Champion.
El Hijo de Dr. Wagner Jr. stepped into the ring to challenge Hayes for the US title in his SmackDown debut this week. The match happened as part of Hayes’ ongoing U.S. Open Challenge, which has become a weekly feature on SmackDown.
This was not Wagner’s first time appearing in WWE. He previously wrestled at Worlds Collide 2025 in June 2025. In that match, he teamed with Pagano and Psycho Clown but lost to Legado Del Fantasma.
Later that year, he also challenged Ethan Page for the NXT North American Championship at NXT Halloween Havoc 2025.
However, his SmackDown appearance was his biggest opportunity on WWE TV so far.
Once the match started, Wagner used his fast lucha libre style, mixing high-flying moves with power. He caught Carmelo Hayes off guard and made it difficult for the champion to stay in control.
Hayes, however, proved why he is still the champion. He was able to stop Wagner’s momentum somehow and finish the match with his finishing move, Nothing But Net.
That move secured the win and gave Hayes his seventh successful defense of the United States Championship.
Read More: Trick Williams Opens Up About His Healthy Rivalry With WWE Coworker
