Royce Keysformerly known as Powerhouse Hobbshas officially arrived in WWE, and his first night couldnt have been bigger. Making his surprise debut in the 2026 Mens Royal Rumble match, Keys delivered power moves, eliminated a top star, and instantly made his presence felt.
In a released behind-the-scenes video shared by WWE, Keys opened up about what the moment meant to him as he soaked in the view of the Riyadh Season Stadium.
Keys was previously with AEW for nearly six years, where he won both the TNT and Trios Championships. After quietly finishing up his run there last month, he made the leap to WWEand instantly made an impact by entering the Rumble at #14 and eliminating Damian Priest before being tossed by Bronson Reed. Backstage, Keys shared a moment with Cody Rhodes and got emotional about what Rhodes meant to him during a difficult period in his life.
Triple H also gave Keys a confidence boost before his WWE debut, telling him:
After the match, Keys made it clear this was only the beginning.
From AEW powerhouse to WWE breakout, Royce Keys just made his markand hes not slowing down anytime soon.
What did you think of Royce Keys debut? Is he the next breakout star on the road to WrestleMania? Drop your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.
