Royce Keys has made it clear that his WWE debut is only the beginning, with the newly signed star already setting his sights on championship success and long-term legacy.
The former Powerhouse Hobbs officially arrived in WWE during the 2026 Royal Rumble, marking what he described as a dream moment. However, Royce Keys says his ambitions extend far beyond simply making it onto the roster.
Speaking on Stephanie McMahon’s What’s Your Story? podcast, Keys explained that his ultimate aim is to build a career worthy of the WWE Hall of Fame.
“I got so many goals I want to do here,” Keys said. “I want to become a champion. I want to become a legend. I want to be in the Hall of Fame. I want to be remembered as one of the most dominant and feared competitors.”
He stressed that signing with WWE is not the finish line, but rather the start of a new chapter that will require continued hard work.
“When I had talks about coming here and signing here, this isn’t a one-off,” he said. “This isn’t me, like, ‘Hey, I’m a WWE Superstar now. Let me gloat.’ No, I still have to work. It took me years to get here. The honeymoon phase is over. Let’s get with it.”
Keys also spoke about the personal motivation driving him, noting that he has people depending on him and sees success as a responsibility.
“I got people that depend on me. If I fail, they don’t eat. And I’m not about to have that on my conscience and shoulders,” he said.
What Does Royce Keys Hope To Do In WWE When He Retires From Wrestling?
While he described his Royal Rumble appearance as bigger than he ever imagined, Royce Keys admitted he is far from satisfied and intends to remain in WWE for the long haul, potentially transitioning into a backstage role once his in-ring career comes to an end.
“I’m not satisfied with this. I love it, it’s a great introduction,” Keys said. “But I plan on rewriting things and being here until I say, you know what, I think I want to step away. I want to help this company out in a different way, whether it’s backstage or whatever.”
Before signing with WWE, Keys spent nearly six years in AEW, where he captured both the TNT Championship and the Trios Championship. Since his Royal Rumble debut, he has yet to appear on Raw or SmackDown television, though he defeated Nathan Frazer in a dark match ahead of SmackDown last Friday.
With Keys eliminating Damian Priest during the Royal Rumble match, the former world champion could emerge as a natural first rival as Keys looks to establish himself on WWE television.
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