Former AEW Star Royce Keys Makes Impactful WWE Debut at Royal Rumble
Royce Keys, formerly known as Powerhouse Hobbs, entered the 2026 Royal Rumble match at #14, marking a significant moment in his professional wrestling career.
- Royce Keys debuted in the Royal Rumble, eliminating Damian Priest.
- WWE documented Keys’ backstage experience before his first match.
- Cody Rhodes shared a poignant moment with Keys, recalling support during a difficult time.
- Keys expressed his excitement and determination to succeed in WWE.
The wrestling world watched as Royce Keys, previously recognized as Powerhouse Hobbs in All Elite Wrestling, stepped into the squared circle as a competitor in the 2026 Royal Rumble. Entering the 30-man battle at number 14, Keys didn’t disappoint, even managing to eliminate former World Heavyweight Champion Damian Priest from the match.
Following his arrival to the company, WWE released a video on its YouTube channel showcasing Keys backstage prior to the event. The footage captured Keys absorbing the atmosphere as fans filled the arena, a moment he described as surreal.
“This is wild. This is something like out of a movie, man,” Keys said in the video. “This whole set-up. Walking out on this aisle and into the ring and the background. It’s pretty amazing, man. Just getting goosebumps under this sweatshirt. It’s crazy… Never thought I’d be part of something this big. This is huge. Leading to the granddaddy of them all, you know. WrestleMania. So this starts tonight.”
The video also featured a touching interaction between Keys and Cody Rhodes. Rhodes playfully acknowledged that Keys’ entrance music wasn’t the one he was anticipating. Keys responded by expressing the profound impact Rhodes had on his life, particularly during the loss of his mother. He emphasized the significance of seeing familiar faces backstage, and the video showed him exchanging well wishes with Carmelo Hayes and CM Punk.
Keys Ready to Embrace New Chapter in WWE
The former AEW TNT and World Trios Champion revealed that participating in the Royal Rumble was a lifelong dream. He fondly recalled recreating Royal Rumble matches in his backyard growing up, admitting the experience brought on a wave of goosebumps and butterflies.
“It’s one of those things, like, you’re realizing your dreams are like, right there,” Keys explained. “Just gotta reach out and grab it and you’re here. I’m a believer that things happen and the universe plays out everything. So you don’t want to have any regrets. I personally don’t like looking back at things in life. I don’t like second guessing myself or, ‘What if I had done this? Maybe I should have done that? What if?’ Everything lined up and made sense to be here.”
Paul “Triple H” Levesque also appeared in the video, assuring Keys that WWE would help him find success. Keys shared that Levesque emphasized he was brought to the company for a reason, which helped alleviate his pre-match nerves. Despite not winning the Rumble, Keys affirmed his commitment to “show up and show out” in WWE.
“We’re going to do 100 [mph] straight ahead,” he said. “That’s what I’m here for. That’s the job I have tonight and that’s what I plan on doing.”
