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
Dennis Condrey and the blueprint for the perfect tag team
The wrestling world mourns the loss of Dennis Condrey, a foundational talent …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Roman Reigns reclaiming the throne is a desperate creative retreat
Roman Reigns is back in the driver's seat, but recycling the Bloodline …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
CM Punk and John Cena saved WWE from its own stale formula
CM Punk and John Cena didn't just wrestle; they dismantled the WWE …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Why the 2011 Pipe Bomb was the last gasp of genuine shock in wrestling
The 2011 Pipe Bomb wasn't just a promo—it was a hostile takeover …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Cena vs The Rock was a massive box office hit that failed as a wrestling story
Cena vs The Rock was a massive commercial success, but its reliance …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
John Cena’s 2026 retirement tour is a victory lap we don't deserve
John Cena is leaving in 2026, but the retirement tour risks stalling …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
John Cena's 16 title reigns: The case for quality over quantity
John Cena’s 16 world titles aren't all created equal. We break down …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
WWE Draft 2026 feels like a mid-card crisis for Raw
The 2026 WWE Draft was a masterclass in stripping Raw of its …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Cody Rhodes needs to stay on SmackDown to save the brand
Moving Cody Rhodes to Raw would be a massive mistake for SmackDown's …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Will Ospreay just proved why he is the absolute best in the world
Will Ospreay's performance at Full Gear 2026 was a masterclass in technical …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
WWE Draft 2026: Why Raw just became the show you can ignore
The 2026 WWE Draft was a creative disaster that stripped Raw of …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Kenny Omega at All Out 2026 is a risk AEW cannot afford
Kenny Omega is a legend, but pinning AEW's biggest show on a …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Cody Rhodes needs to stay on SmackDown to save WWE’s Friday nights
Moving Cody Rhodes to Raw would be a massive mistake for SmackDown's …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Bash in Berlin 2026 is WWE's biggest test since the Triple H era began
Gunther vs. Dragunov is the only main event that makes sense, but …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Full Gear is officially AEW's most important night of the year
Full Gear has become the definitive stage for AEW, balancing career-defining triumphs …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
Tony Khan's handling of Swerve Strickland is AEW's biggest mistake of 2026
Swerve Strickland belongs at the absolute pinnacle of AEW, but the confusing …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
NXT booking shifted to counter AEW Dynamite
A former WWE star admits NXT altered its booking in direct response …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
AEW must fix their bloated card problem for Wembley 2026
If Tony Khan wants All In 2026 to remain a destination event, …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
All In 2026 is Will Ospreay's last chance to become AEW's true ace
All In 2026 at Wembley Stadium is the absolute do-or-die moment for …
2 months, 2 weeks ago
How to survive the AEW All In 2026 ticket bloodbath
AEW's return to Wembley in 2026 will be incredible, but navigating Ticketmaster's …
2 months, 2 weeks ago