The 2026 Royal Rumble gave fans the usual chaos and surprisesbut when the former Powerhouse Hobbs entered at #14, the real noise wasnt just in the arenait was backstage.
As the crowd in Riyadh lit up for the debuting big man, WWE flashed the name Powerhouse Hobbs on screen before quickly switching it to his new WWE identity: Royce Keys. It was a bold moveand one that had people behind the scenes talking immediately.
According to Fightful Select, the vibe backstage was overwhelmingly positive. But not everyone was on the same page.
Yeahyou read that right. WWE literally teased the AEW-era name on screen, then hit the rebrand mid-entrance. It was flashy, dramatic, and apparently a little messy for staffers who werent clued in.
What we do know? AEW didnt want to lose him. Hobbs reportedly turned down a major offer from AEW to jump to WWEand even reached out to Jim Ross before his Rumble debut to make it clear he was ready for the next chapter.
So far, Royce Keys is already turning headsand if this reaction backstage is any sign, hes about to make a serious impact.
Do you think WWE botched the rollout with the Powerhouse name flash? Or was the transition to Royce Keys the right call? Sound off in the comments and tell us where you stand.
