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
Sami Zayn's exit from the main event scene is a major creative stumble
Sami Zayn's abrupt title loss on July 6 has left a creative …
2 days, 10 hours ago
Top 10: The G1 Climax 36 Opening Weekend Shakeout
The G1 Climax 36 is underway, and injuries and unexpected losses are …
2 days, 10 hours ago
WWE’s Albany ticket numbers expose a cooling trend
With only 6,928 tickets sold for an 17,500-seat arena, WWE's Albany stop …
2 days, 10 hours ago
Why the middleweight rematch at PFL Austin comes down to small tactical margins
A tactical breakdown of Johnny Eblen vs. Impa Kasanganay 2 at PFL …
2 days, 11 hours ago
Tiffany Stratton's booking reveals a structural flaw in WWE's mid-card
Analyzing why Tiffany Stratton's recent SmackDown booking highlights a deeper issue with …
2 days, 11 hours ago
Top 10: The Most Defining Moments in Modern Wrestling History
From Montreal to the Pipebomb, we break down the ten moments that …
2 days, 14 hours ago
CM Punk’s pacing problem is catching up to him
CM Punk's recent absence highlights a deeper issue: the WWE championship belt …
2 days, 14 hours ago
Trick Williams injury update: The road back from a nagging injury
Trick Williams is sidelined with a nagging injury, forcing a re-evaluation of …
2 days, 18 hours ago
Randy Orton and the fragile reality of WWE’s touring circus
Analyzing the disconnect between hyped WWE appearances and the reality of the …
2 days, 18 hours agoThe high cost of Seth Rollins' latest knee setback
Seth Rollins is sidelined with a Grade 2 MCL tear following a …
2 days, 22 hours ago
Damian Priest is right: Being a fan doesn't give you a free pass
Damian Priest calls out the boundary-crossing behavior of some wrestling fans, reminding …
2 days, 22 hours agoRicochet’s post-WWE trajectory suggests a massive AEW play
With his recent WWE departure finalized, industry chatter points to a high-profile …
2 days, 23 hours agoSmackDown is becoming a cycle of diminishing returns
With 60 percent of matches ending in interference, SmackDown's latest broadcast highlights …
2 days, 23 hours agoSummerSlam stakes are rising after SmackDown's chaotic finish
A technical look at the booking shifts heading into SummerSlam after a …
3 days, 1 hour ago
AEW and WWE are choosing very different paths for their summer programming
Analyzing the tactical choice between AEW's championship-heavy card design and the trend …
3 days, 2 hours ago
SmackDown is stalling and the road to SummerSlam looks messy
SmackDown's reliance on repetitive qualifying matches and messy finishes is threatening their …
3 days, 2 hours agoAEW All In London 2026 is the ultimate high-wire act
AEW returns to Wembley, but can Tony Khan avoid the bloated, messy …
3 days, 3 hours agoShelf Gods vs. Bedroom Championships: A Realistic Look at WWE Gear
Curating your wrestling display can get pricey, so I'm breaking down whether …
3 days, 3 hours ago
Tom Brady wanting a WWE match is a mistake the product doesn't need
Tom Brady wants a run in WWE, but the company’s recent shift …
3 days, 4 hours ago
Shelly Martinez and the brutal reality of wrestling paychecks
Shelly Martinez reveals the harsh reality behind her TNA departure, sparking a …
3 days, 8 hours ago