WWE appears to have firm plans in place for Royce Keys following his surprise debut at the 2026 Men’s Royal Rumble.
Royce Keys made an immediate impact by entering the Royal Rumble as an unannounced participant, marking his first appearance with WWE after leaving AEW, where he previously competed as Powerhouse Hobbs. His arrival quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the match, with attention turning to how WWE would position the powerhouse moving forward.
According to a report from Bodyslam.net, Keys was backstage at Monday’s episode of WWE Raw. Internally, the expectation is that Keys will be assigned to the SmackDown brand as WWE begins the next phase of his rollout following the Royal Rumble.
Reaction to Keys’ debut has been overwhelmingly positive, including from respected voices within WWE. Former WWE Champion Big E spoke about the moment while talking with Sam Roberts, expressing his admiration for Keys and what the debut represented.
WWE Hall of Famer Booker T also praised Keys’ decision to join WWE and suggested the Royal Rumble appearance was only the beginning.
With early backstage momentum, public praise from veterans, and an apparent landing spot on SmackDown, Keys looks set for a meaningful push as WWE looks to build on the buzz generated by his Royal Rumble debut.
How Long Was Royce Keys With AEW?
Royce Keys, who competed as Powerhouse Hobbs in AEW, was with the opposition promotion for close to six years, debuting in September 2020 in the Casino Battle Royal at All Out. His performance in that match impressed Tony Khan, and Khan offered Hobbs a contract following All Out.
Hobbs went on to capture the AEW TNT and World Trios Titles during his tenure, and departed when his contract expired on January 15 this year.
