Royce Keys is beginning to establish himself on WWE television, and the former AEW talent has opened up on his transition into the company.
Speaking to Fox News, Royce Keys reflected on his debut at the 2026 WWE Royal Rumble in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, describing it as a major test early in his run.
“For me, it was a huge test,” he said. “New audience, new style, being so far away from home, I didn’t know what to expect. Probably one of the handful of times I’ve been nervous in my life.”
Entering at number 14 in the Men’s Royal Rumble match, the former Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW lasted just under 10 minutes and scored an elimination over Damian Priest before being eliminated by Bronson Reed. Despite the nerves beforehand, Keys said the moment quickly felt natural once he reached the ring.
“Once I got to walk down that aisle, everything felt so natural… all eyes on me,” he said. “It was definitely rewarding. You ever get that feeling like you were meant to do something? I had that feeling then.”
Royce Keys Has Continued His WWE Run With A Series Of TV Dark Matches & Andre The Giant Memorial Win
Royce Keys has since continued to build momentum, having requested a series of dark matches before transitioning to television. He returned to TV ahead of WrestleMania 42 on the April 10 episode of WWE SmackDown, and then won the Andre the Giant Memorial Battle Royal the following week, before appearing in follow-up segments and video packages introducing his character to a wider audience.
