WWE SmackDown Notes: Carmelo Hayes Leaves The Miz & Breaks Up Melo Don’t Miz, NXT’s ZaRuca & Je’Von Evans Makes Surprise Appearance, Wade Barrett Commentary Return & Matches Set for 10/10 Show Card

Carmelo Hayes Leaves The Miz & Breaks Up Melo Don’t Miz

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show at the Heritage Bank Center in Cincinnati, Ohio featured Carmelo Hayes leaving The Miz and breaking up their Melo Don’t Miz tag team.

This was initially setup over recent weeks shows over Hayes and The Miz’s growing tension with each other over them not being on the same page as a team. During tonight’s show, Hayes was seen walking backstage before being stopped by The Miz who complained about Hayes letting him get beat last week in their WWE Tag Team Championship #1 Contender match. Hayes responded stating that this partnership between them was done because The Miz was simply standing in his way when he was supposed to be watching his back. Hayes continued stating that he was being cool about this because normally he shoots first. Hayes then told Miz “we good” before walking away as The Miz looked on upset over what just happened.

Carmelo Hayes tells The Miz that Melo Don’t Miz is done #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/SIegwy22VE

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 4, 2025

In a follow-up segment, Hayes came out to stage to answer Sami Zayn’s Open Challenge match for the WWE United States Championship. After some words by Hayes, The Miz ran out and laid out Hayes with a Skull Crushing Finale as WWE officials ran out to separate The Miz and send him to the back. This led to Aleister Black coming out and taking the open challenge match offer.

DOWN GOES CARMELO! @Aleister_Blxck saw an opportunity and he took it 🤷@Carmelo_WWE @mikethemiz pic.twitter.com/R62ZhWuejG

— WWE (@WWE) October 4, 2025

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ZaRuca Makes Surprise Appearance on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured NXT tag team ZaRuca (Sol Ruca & Zaria) making a surprise appearance.

During the show, a video aired featuring SmackDown GM Nick Aldis having a chat with Ruca and Zaria backstage before the show. This led to Chelsea Green and Alba Fyre showing up to interrupt and offered an invitation for ZaRuca to become members of The Secret Hervice. Ruca and Zaria rejected the offer and after some banter between the two, Aldis made a tag team match between the two teams for tonight’s show.

Chelsea Green offered ZaRuca the chance to be in The Secret Hervice

Neither Sol Ruca nor Zaria were interested, but they do have a match now against Chelsea and Alba Fyre!#SmackDown pic.twitter.com/VUjk3e4v4r

— WrestlePurists (@WrestlePurists) October 4, 2025

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Je’Von Evans Makes Surprise Appearance on Friday’s WWE SmackDown Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured NXT talent Je’Von Evans making a surprise appearance.

During the show, a video aired featured SmackDown GM Nick Aldis and Evans being shown leaving Aldis’ office backstage. Aldis talked about Evans’ future potentially involving a move to SmackDown for him. This led to Rey Fenix showing up and after some words by Fenix, Los Garza’s Angel & Berto showed up to interrupt. This led to Los Garza’s insulting Fenix and Evans resulting in Aldis making a tag team match between the two teams for the show.

Je’von Evans talks to Nick Aldis about joining #SmackDown. Rey Fenix expresses interest in facing him. Los Garza interrupts, trash-talking, claiming past victories. Je’von challenges them to a rematch, and Aldis agrees. #SmackDown pic.twitter.com/FH6K0Qsc16

— Pro Wrestling & MMA News (@PWMMANews) October 4, 2025

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Wade Barrett’s SmackDown Commentary Return Announced & Current Card for Next Week’s Show

Friday’s WWE SmackDown show also featured four new matches announced for next week’s show on October 10th at the RAC Arena in Perth, Western Australia, Australia.

Among the notable announcements included Michael Cole announcing that Wade Barrett will be making his return to WWE’s SmackDown commentary team at next week’s show.

Current card for October 10th WWE SmackDown show:

• WWE Tag Team Championship – The Street Profits (Angelo Dawkins & Montez Ford) vs. Wyatt Sicks (Dexter Lumis & Joe Gacy) (c)
• WWE United States Championship Open Challenge match – mystery opponent vs. Sami Zayn (c)
• Last Man Standing match – Damian Priest vs. Aleister Black
• Tiffany Stratton & Stephanie Vaquer vs. Giulia & Kiana James